ESPN Takes Over the NBA This Weekend; Michelle Beadle to Host NBA Countdown

ESPN gets back in the NBA Playoffs act on Friday and Sunday. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine for three Games 6 on Friday and then ABC will air a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday.

The takeaway on this is that Michelle Beadle will host NBA Countdown on both days as Sage Steele as a prior commitment.

Here’s the whole thing from ESPN.

NBA Playoffs:  Three Game 6 Matchups Friday

Michelle Beadle Subs for Sage Steele on NBA Countdown

ESPN’s NBA Playoffs continue Friday, May 2, with three Game 6 showdowns in which each home team faces elimination beginning at 7 p.m. ET when the Brooklyn Nets and Paul Pierce host the Toronto Raptors and Kyle Lowry on ESPN2. Dave Pasch will call the action with analyst Jon Barry and reporter Heather Cox. The Raptors currently lead the series 3-2.

A doubleheader follows on ESPN at 8 p.m. when the San Antonio Spurs – led by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan – visit the Dallas Mavericks with Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis. Mike Breen, analyst Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke will provide commentary for the telecast. The Spurs currently lead the series 3-2. In the nightcap, the Houston Rockets with Dwight Howard and James Harden visit the Portland Trail Blazers with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge at 10:30 p.m. Mike Tirico will join analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Lisa Salters on the call. The Trail Blazers currently lead the series 3-2. NBA Countdown with guest host Michelle Beadle and analysts Doug Collins, Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons will precede the doubleheader on ESPN at 7:30 p.m.  (Sage Steele has previous commitments this weekend.)

Additionally, ABC will broadcast an NBA Playoffs doubleheader on Sunday, May 4, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. featuring either first-round Game 7 contests or Game 1 Conference Semifinal matchups. NBA Countdown will precede the doubleheader on ABC at 12:30 p.m. with Beadle, Collins, Rose and Simmons.

All NBA Playoff games on ESPN and ABC (through special simulcasts on ESPN3) are available on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV via WatchESPN. NBA Playoff games on ABC are also accessible on computers, smartphones and tablets via WATCH ABC in select markets.

Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Networks
Fri, May 2 7 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets – Game 6
Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Heather Cox
ESPN2, WatchESPN

7:30 p.m.

NBA Countdown
Michelle Beadle, Doug Collins, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons

ESPN, WatchESPN

8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks – Game 6
Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Doris Burke
ESPN, WatchESPN
10:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers – Game 6
Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Lisa Salters
ESPN, WatchESPN
2 a.m. NBA Tonight
Cassidy Hubbarth, Bruce Bowen
ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sun, May 4 12:30 p.m. NBA Countdown
Michelle Beadle, Doug Collins, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons
ABC, WatchABC
1 p.m. TBD ABC, WatchABC, ESPN3
3:30 p.m. TBD ABC, WatchABC, ESPN3

That’s all.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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