NBA releases Opening Night, Christmas Day schedules

Trae Young's return to Madison Square Garden will have a festive feel.

The New York Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks, while the Los Angeles Lakers will welcome the Brooklyn Nets as part of the NBA's Christmas Day schedule, the league announced Tuesday.

The Opening Night schedule was also released Tuesday. NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks will visit the Nets, while the Golden State Warriors will host the Lakers. Both games are scheduled for Oct. 19.

Young played the villain for the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, leading Atlanta to victory over the Knicks in five games.

A Knicks fan was banned for spitting on Young during Game 2, and the 2020 All-Star responded with a stellar series that included hushing the Knicks faithful and bowing following a late dagger. Asked about bowing to a rapturous MSG crowd, Young said: "I know where we are. I know it's a bunch of shows around this city."

Also on Christmas Day, LeBron James and the retooled Lakers will welcome the Nets and their three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.

That game will be a showcase of future Hall of Famers after Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard joined LeBron and Anthony Davis in L.A. this offseason.

In other Christmas Day matchups, the Bucks will welcome the Boston Celtics, the Phoenix Suns will entertain the Warriors, and the Utah Jazz will host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the final game on the slate.

Dec. 25 schedule