NBA unveils its December pre-season game schedule

The NBA set in place a 49-game pre-season schedule on Friday, with practice games taking place Dec. 11-19 in advance of the Dec. 22 start to the regular season.

Each team will play at least two pre-season games, with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers playing four times before the delayed regular season gets underway just before Christmas. Five games are scheduled for the Dec. 11 opening night of pre-season games, highlighted by a matchup between the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Toronto Raptors will play three pre-season games, including a home game in Tampa, Fla.

The NBA will release the schedule for the first half of the season soon. A second-half schedule will be released later and include any games that had to be postponed.