NBA schedule: Lakers visit Bulls on Christmas Day, host Rockets in season opener

The Los Angeles Lakers will visit the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day, and open the season against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center, reports ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The full season schedule will be released Wednesday evening on NBA TV.

This sets up a reunion between Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Christmas Day in what should be a tough game for Los Angeles. The Lakers also played the Rockets early last season in a game that ended on a Steve Blake game-winner.

Shameless plug of that shot:

This will also be the first game Dwight Howard faces off against Kobe Bryant since he joined the Rockets, which will surely add some intrigue and energy at Staples Center.