The Warriors will open their season on the road in Los Angeles for the second consecutive season.
The Warriors announced on Tuesday morning that the team will play at the Lakers on Oct. 21, where they will get their first look at the new-look Lakers trio of superstar Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. This is the fourth time in the past six seasons the teams have matched up for the Warriors’ opener, but the first time since LeBron James left LA for Philadelphia.
Golden State is 37-43 in opening games.
It will also play on Christmas Day for the 14th consecutive year, the longest streak in the franchise’s history, and will host for the third year in a row. The Warriors’ opponent will be three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Both the Lakers and Nuggets made the postseason and with their superstars in the primes of their respective careers, have title expectations going into this year.
Barring a blockbuster trade, Golden State is expected to bring back a nearly identical roster to last year’s into those games. The Warriors picked Yaxel Lendeborg No. 11 overall in the draft, but also re-signed De’Athony Melton, Draymond Green, Al Horford,Gary Payton, Charles Bassey and Kristaps Porzingis to new contracts.
The full season schedule will be released on Thursday at 12 p.m. PT.