Bryant, O’Neal to face off on Christmas
August 4, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—The NBA is bringing Kobe Bryant(notes) and Shaquille O’Neal(notes) togetheragain for Christmas—this time joined by LeBron James(notes).
Bryant and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will host the ClevelandCavaliers on Dec. 25, one of the highlights of the 2009-10 NBA schedule releasedTuesday.
It will be the fourth time in the five years since their partnership endedthat Bryant and O’Neal will meet on Christmas. Traded to Cleveland in June,O’Neal will return to Los Angeles this year with James, who succeeded Bryant asMVP last season.
O’Neal and James will play their first game together in the NBA seasonopener, hosting the Boston Celtics on Oct. 27. The four-game slate that nightconcludes when the Lakers open their title defense against No. 1 draft pickBlake Griffin(notes) and the Clippers.
Defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando opens Oct. 28 againstPhiladelphia, then goes on the road two nights later to visit New Jersey, givingVince Carter(notes) a quick return to his former home.
The Magic will visit the Lakers for an NBA finals rematch Jan. 18 as part ofthe schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Los Angeles will play at Orlandoon March 7 for the first time since winning the title in June.
Orlando also plays on Christmas, hosting Boston in a matchup of the last twoEast champions. Miami at New York, the Clippers at Phoenix and Denver atPortland round out that day’s action.
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