The 2011-2012 NBA schedule will be officially released on Tuesday morning, which is unique for a few reasons. The schedule doesn't normally get announced this early, but more importantly, the league is currently in a lockout and the season, or at least the beginning of the season, is in jeopardy. But if there is a season, and Kobe Bryant isn't earning $1 million per month in Turkey, the Lakers will open with Kevin Durant, former UCLA Bruin Russell Westbrook, and the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 1 at Staples Center.
Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times has some more details and nuggets on the schedule, which includes a Christmas Day affair against the Bulls in Los Angeles. It will be the 13th consecutive season for the Lakers playing on December 25. The Lakers will play their longtime nemesis Celtics on February 9 on the road and March 11 in Los Angeles. Turner also noted the Lakers will play the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, authors of a second-round sweep of L.A., in Dallas on December 15 and at Staples Center on January 16 and April 15.
The full NBA schedule will be released Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. on NBA TV.
For more news and information on the Lakers or on their schedule for next season, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.