NBA Schedule Leaks Head-to-Head Matchups Featuring Lakers, Rockets, Heat

There’s always something to talk about in the NBA world.

With the draft in the rear-view and free agency winding down, it’s time to look ahead to the 2013-14 regular season and some mouth-watering matchups between some of the league’s top teams.

The full schedule hasn’t been released yet, but we already know the details for a few of those games.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the first of those matchups involves the two-time defending champion Miami Heat and a Chicago Bulls squad likely to feature Derrick Rose making his triumphant return to the hardwood:

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The Miami Heat will be getting their 2013 NBA championship rings in front of the Chicago Bulls. Their fans then will get to enjoy their Christmas dinner watching the Heat from afar, against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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And, by the way, that last little tidbit is pretty interesting as well.

By Christmas, Kobe Bryant could be back on the floor as well, and while the Los Angeles Lakers sputtered to a grinding halt with Bryant on the shelf in the playoffs, they always have the potential to create excitement.

The opener between Miami and Chicago is currently scheduled for October 29 in Miami, though Winderman notes that all games on the tentative schedule are subject to change before it is officially released.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports also reported on the tentative NBA schedule, highlighting another juicy matchup that will feature Bryant and the Lakers:

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As Kobe Bryant rehabilitates his torn Achilles tendon, there will undoubtedly be a date circled on his and the Los Angeles Lakers' schedule: A Nov. 7 trip to Houston to meet the Rockets and center Dwight Howard.

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The timetable for Bryant’s return is still in question, but according to Wojnarowski, “there’s belief Bryant could be ready for the start of the season.” Should that happen, the Black Mamba will be back on the floor in plenty of time to put on a show against his former teammate and the rest of the rebuilt Rockets.