Lakers, Clippers release regular-season schedules

The NBA released its schedule for the 2016-17 season on Thursday, and for the second season in a row the Lakers and Clippers will play each other on Christmas night, this time with the Lakers as the home team.

The Lakers have played on Christmas every year since 1999.

The Lakers, their No. 2-overall pick Brandon Ingram and new Coach Luke Walton will open the season at home against Houston on Oct. 26.

This will be the first time in 21 seasons that Kobe Bryant won’t be on the Lakers’ roster.

The Lakers will be doing a lot of traveling to start the season, with 20 of their first 33 games on the road.

Meanwhile, the Clippers open the season Oct. 27 in Portland, the same spot where Doc Rivers’ team was eliminated in six-games last spring in a first-round playoff series.

The Clippers have their home opener against Utah on Sunday, Oct. 30.

The Lakers’ longest road trip is a seven-game stretch from Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, including a game in Philadelphia on Dec. 16 when Ingram will play against the 76ers’ No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons.

One day later, the Lakers play the defending champion Cavaliers, and LeBron James, in Cleveland.

The Clippers’ longest stretch on the road is a six-game trip that begins in Dallas on Nov. 23, includes a stop in Cleveland on Dec. 1 and concludes in New Orleans on Dec. 2.

Kevin Durant will play his first regular-season game in L.A. wearing a Golden State jersey when the Western Conference champion Warriors play the Lakers at Staples Center on Nov. 4.

The Lakers will have to deal with Durant, Stephen Curry and Co. twice more that month, heading to Oakland on Nov. 23 before hosting the Warriors again on Nov. 25.

The Clippers, meanwhile, don’t face the Warriors until Dec. 7 at Staples Center.

The final game of the Clippers’ regular season will be at home on April 12 against Sacramento.

The Lakers conclude their regular season against the Warriors at Oakland, also on April 12.

Follow Renee Griffin on Twitter @ReneeMGriffin