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LeBron James returns to Cleveland with Lakers on Nov. 21

In this March 19, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James stands on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Associated Press

NEW YORK – LeBron James will make his one and only visit to Cleveland on Nov. 21 when the Los Angeles Lakers play the Cavaliers in the four-time MVP’s home state.

The NBA released its complete regular season schedule Friday, two days after announcing the league’s national TV schedule .

The regular season tips off Oct. 16 with Philadelphia visiting Boston and Oklahoma City at Golden State. The season concludes April 10.

Defending champion Golden State will play Houston for the first time since their Western Conference final went seven games on Nov. 15, while Toronto visits San Antonio on Jan. 3 in the first game between the teams since their big deal swapping DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.

Utah and Orlando will play in Mexico City on Dec. 15, while the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards will play the NBA’s ninth regular-season game in London on Jan. 17.

The league is starting the season earlier in its push to limit the number of back-to-back games with teams averaging just 13.3 back-to-backs, a drop of 31 percent from 2014-15 when the average was 19.3 per team. No team will play four games in five days for a second straight season and for the first time ever no team will play eight games in a 12-day span.