Gary Payton must wait until next year to play his former team.

The Sonics' first game against Payton's new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, is Jan. 2 at KeyArena. It's the first of four games between the Sonics and the Lakers.

The NBA regular-season schedule was announced yesterday, and the Sonics open in Japan. Seattle plays the Los Angeles Clippers in its first two regular-season games at the Saitama Super Arena, north of Tokyo, at the end of October.

After that, the Sonics stick close to home. Nine of their first 16 games are at home, the most home-heavy start to any season since the lockout-shortened schedule of 1999.

The Sonics play the Clippers on Oct. 30 at 2:30 a.m. and Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. (all times Pacific). Seattle won't play again until Nov. 7 against Portland at Key- Arena at 7:30 p.m., the home opener.

Via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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