NBA Schedule 2017-18: When does Chris Paul play the Clippers?

Chris Paul orchestrated a trade to the Houston Rockets this summer, in a somewhat ugly ending to his time with the Clippers. When does he play his old team for the first time?

New Rockets point guard Chris Paul will be facing the Los Angeles Clippers four times this upcoming season. Below are the dates and times for those highly anticipated matchups (all listed in eastern time):

• Clippers at Rockets – Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 (8:00 p.m.) on ESPN
• Rockets at Clippers – Monday, Jan. 15, 2018 (10:30 p.m.) on TNT
• Rockets at Clippers – Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 (10:30 p.m.) on ESPN
• Clippers at Rockets – Thursday, March 15, 2018 (8:00 p.m.) on NBATV

After spending six stellar seasons with L.A. — Paul was selected to five All-Star teams over that period, likely only missing selection in 2016-17 due to injury — but failing to lead his team to a Western Conference Finals appearance, Paul demanded a trade this past offseason. L.A. honored that request, dealing Paul away in a blockbuster that brought Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Wiltjer, a few others and a 2018 first-round pick to the City of Angels. For various reasons benefiting Paul, the Rockets and the Clippers, Paul decided to opt in to the final year of his contract, sacrificing earning potential in the short term. Thus, he will become a free agent following the season, although he has indicated he intends to stay in Houston for some time.

Paul originally joined L.A. via trade from the New Orleans Hornets ahead of the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season. He leaves the Clippers as the franchise’s all-time assists leader with 4,023. He also ranks No. 6 overall in career points (7,674) in L.A. and second in franchise steals (902).

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The trade pairs 2017 MVP runner-up James Harden with Paul, still one of the best point guards in the league at age 32. Last season, the Rockets finished with 55 wins, placing four games ahead of the Clippers. Despite Houston’s 14-win improvement from the 2015-16 campaign, it could not get past the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. Meanwhile, L.A. fell to the Utah Jazz in an opening-round series that went the distance. Each time these teams square off this season, you can certainly bet fireworks will fly.