LeBron James, Heat to play in Miami on Christmas, per report

LeBron James will make his return to Miami on Christmas day when the Heat host the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN has confirmed. The news was orginally reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The 2014-15 NBA schedule won't be released until August 13, but Jackson reports the Cavaliers and Heat will play in Miami on Christmas "barring an unexpected change of heart by the league." Although it won't be on quite the same level that James' return to Cleveland was, his first trip back to Miami will be a storyline and the NBA will thrust it into center stage on the biggest day of the regular season. According to Jackson, the game will be set for ABC with either a 2:30 p.m. ET or 5 p.m. start time.

With James being the biggest star in the NBA, it's a near lock he and the Cavs would be part of the Christmas schedule. A return to Miami would only add some intrigue. The game won't necessarily be James' first against the Heat, but it will likely be the first meeting in Miami.