NBA champions the Golden State Warriors and runners-up the Cleveland Cavaliers headline the opening night in October after the league's 2015-16 schedule was announced on Wednesday.

The 70th NBA season tips off on October 27, with the Warriors hosting the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cavaliers travelling to the Chicago Bulls in their Eastern Conference semi-final rematch and the Detroit Pistons facing the Atlanta Hawks.

Golden State and Cleveland will resume hostilities in a Finals rematch on Christmas Day.

The Warriors, who won their first NBA championship in 40 years in June, and reigning MVP Stephen Curry will entertain the Cavs and LeBron James in a blockbuster matchup at Oracle Arena.

Elsewhere on Christmas Day, the Pelicans take on the Miami Heat, and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder lock horns with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler of the Bulls.

There will be a Texas derby as recruit LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs visit the Houston Rockets, while the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers clash in another derby.

The schedule, which features another week-long All-Star break following on from 2014-15, will see the regular season finish on April 13 before the play-offs get underway three days later.