NEW YORK (AP) A televised game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, and a Minnesota-Miami matchup in the Dominican Republic, highlight the NBA exhibition schedule released Thursday.

In a rematch of the Western Conference finals, the Lakers and Kings will play on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The game will be televised by ESPN.

The Heat and Timberwolves will play at the Palacio de los Deportes in Santo Domingo on Friday, Oct. 11. It will be the 19th game organized by the NBA in Latin America since 1992; the first ever held in the Dominican Republic.

The New Orleans Hornets, who relocated from Charlotte following last season, will play their first game in their new city on Oct. 17 against Washington.

Chinese center Yao Ming, the No. 1 overall pick in last June's draft, should play his first game with the Houston Rockets on Oct. 15 against San Antonio. Because of commitments to his national team, Yao is expected to miss Houston's first exhibition game at Memphis on Oct. 8.

The first game of the preseason takes place Oct. 6 when Utah plays Seattle at Spokane, Wash.

The regular season begins Tuesday, Oct. 29.

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