Golden State hosts Houston on early NBA opening night

The Golden State Warriors will open their title defense by hosting Houston in Chris Paul’s Rockets debut on Oct. 17, the NBA’S earliest opening night in 37 years.

Cleveland and Boston will play an Eastern Conference finals rematch earlier that night to begin the 2017-18 season, the league announced Thursday.

The Warriors and Cavaliers will play a Finals rematch on Christmas, the marquee game of the five-game holiday slate that includes Philadelphia at New York, Washington at Boston, Houston at Oklahoma City and Minnesota at the Los Angeles Lakers.

■ Kings: Two-time All-star forward Zach Randolph, 36, was arrested for possessing marijuana with intent to sell after several police cars were vandalized when a large gathering became unruly at a Los Angeles housing project. a large log with teammates as part of a Navy Seals-style drill was hit in the head by the log and died Thursday in Farmingville, New York.

Joshua Mileto, 16, a 5-foot-6-inch, 134-pound junior wide receiver and defensive back at Sachem East High School, and about five of his teammates were carrying the log overhead when the accident happened at a preseason exercise camp supervised by a halfdozen coaches, Suffolk County police said.

Mileto was declared dead later at a hospital. His family and school officials did not comment.

■ College: Nebraska lost freshman wide receiver Jaevon Mcquitty, Missouri’s top-ranked prep player in the 2017 class, to a season-ending knee injury.