LOOK: Detroit Pistons 2017-2018 schedule revealed

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NBA: Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
Mar 23, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) talks to guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 118-102. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

We are now just a couple of short months away from NBA basketball officially returning to downtown Detroit.

The NBA released its full 2017-2018 regular season schedule on Monday and the Detroit Pistons will open the campaign in the brand new Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 18 against the Charlotte Hornets.

The Pistons ironically also opened the Palace of Auburn Hills against the Hornets back in 1988, though that iteration of the Hornets eventually moved to New Orleans, and these Charlotte Hornets were originally the expansion Bobcats, back in 2004.

While six of the Pistons’ first eight games are on the road, their first major home stand at the new arena is a five-gamer that features two Central Division rivals in early November.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will pay their first visit to LCA on Monday, Nov. 20, and the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors come to town on Friday, Dec. 8, a game which will be televised on ESPN.

The game against the Warriors is one of four nationally televised games, all of which are at home (Jan. 19 vs. Washington on ESPN; Jan. 30 vs. Cleveland on TNT; March 7 vs. Toronto on ESPN).

Other notable games on Detroit’s schedule:

  • Detroit will face former Piston Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in his new home with the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 31, and he is set to make his return to Detroit on March 26.
  • New Piston Avery Bradley returns to Boston for his first game against his former team on Nov. 27.
  • The newest potential super-team in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets, visit Detroit on Jan. 6.
  • The Pistons’ final home game of the season is on Apr. 9 against the Toronto Raptors.

What do you think, Nation? Will the Pistons make their way back to the playoffs?