Hornets draw Cavs in home opener

• Advocate news services
• Published: Aug 7, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:30 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will visit New Orleans on Nov. 1 when the Hornets open their 2008-09 home NBA schedule.

The NBA released the schedule Wednesday, and New Orleans opens with road games at Golden State on Oct. 29 and Phoenix on Oct. 30.

The Hornets are scheduled to make 13 appearances on national television, including a Thanksgiving night game at Denver on Nov. 27 on TNT and a Christmas Day game at Orlando on ESPN.

The Hornets will appear on ESPN nine times, TNT three times and ABC once.

“The schedule coming out creates a whole new excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season,” said coach Byron Scott. “We look forward to carrying the momentum that began last season into the beginning of this season. The high hopes for this season will bring a wave of excitement and passion that even exceeds last year’s run.”

Among the top home games are two meetings against the defending Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 12 and Dec. 23), a matchup with the NBA champion Boston Celtics (Feb. 11) and two dates against San Antonio (Dec. 17 and March 29).

The Spurs beat the Hornets in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals last season.

The Hornets close the 2008-09 season with back-to-back road games.

New Orleans visits Houston on April 13 and San Antonio on April 15 in the regular-season finale.