Lakers announce 2017 preseason schedule

Of all the variables that determine how quickly the Lakers’ young roster develops in the 2017-18 season, training camp will become a less determining factor.

That’s because the NBA has shortened the amount of preseason games in hopes to help with player rest and recovery. Though this gives the Lakers less time to prepare with practice and preseason games, Lakers coach Luke Walton represented one of many NBA coaches that favored reducing the exhibition schedule for recovery purposes.

After normally starting exhibition play in early October, the Lakers’ preseason opener will be on Sept. 30 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Anaheim’s Honda Center. The Lakers then play on Oct. 2 against Denver (Staples Center), Oct. 4 against Denver (Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario) and Oct. 8 against Sacramento (T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas). The Lakers will then conclude their exhibition schedule at Staples Center against Utah on Oct. 10 and the Clippers on Oct. 13. The NBA will release the schedule for the 2017-18 regular season sometime in early August.

Because of the condensed preseason schedule, the Lakers will not play in San Diego as they had in past seasons. The Lakers will not play in the hometown of coach Luke Walton for only the fourth time in the past 15 years. They also did not play exhibition games in San Diego in 2007 (trip to Hawaii), 2011 (lockout-shortened preseason) and 2013 (trip to China).

Tickets for games in Anaheim, Ontario and Las Vegas will go on sale at 10 a.m. PT on June 12, while tickets for games at Staples Center will go on sale at a later unannounced date.

Fans can buy tickets for the games in Anaheim and Ontario through www.ticketmaster.com or by phone (1-800-4-NBA-TIX for Anaheim; 1-800-745-300 in Ontario). For Anaheim, tickets are also available at the Honda Center box office, priced at $20, $25, $41, $74 and $129. Group seats of 15 or more are available for purchase by calling 1-714-940-2859 or visiting www.hondacenter.com. For Ontario, tickets are also available at the Citizens Business Bank Arena Box Office (Monday-Friday; 12pm-5pm), priced at $22, $39, $65, $75, $115 and $125.

As for the game in Las Vegas, fans can buy tickets through www.axs.com, by phone (1-888-929-7849) or at the T-Mobile Arena Box office. Those tickets are priced at $22, $37, $52, $75, $90 and $145.

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