In the truncated 66 game schedule in this weird NBA season, the Disney networks will combine for 90, count ’em 90 games. Overall, ESPN will carry 75 games. ABC will air 15. And ESPN Radio will take 24 games. ESPN and ABC begin the season with four games on Christmas Day with the American Broadcasting Company airing an afternoon doubleheader starting with an NBA Finals rematch between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. ESPN will have a Christmas night double dip starting at 8 East.
Let’s post ESPN’s preview of the upcoming season. Then the schedule will be posted after a jump break.
NBA Season to Open on ABC & ESPN with Christmas Day Quadruple Header
90-Game Flexible TV Schedule; 2011 NBA Finals Rematch Part of Christmas Day Showcase
ESPN Radio’s 17th Season Begins Christmas Day; ESPN Deportes to Televise 19 GamesESPN’s multiplatform coverage of the 2011-12 NBA regular season will include 90 games, highlighted by 15 exclusive broadcasts on ABC – the home of The Finals – and 75 ESPN telecasts. Games airing on ABC and ESPN are subject to flexible scheduling, providing the best matchups throughout the season. All games will be available in high definition, with ESPN telecasts also generally available via ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV and the Watch ESPN App. Additionally, ESPN Radio will broadcast 24 regular-season games and ESPN Deportes will present 19 telecasts.
ABC and ESPN will tip off the season with a quadruple header on Christmas Day opening with a blockbuster doubleheader on ABC – a Finals rematch when the reigning NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks and Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki host the Miami Heat and All-Stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on Sunday, Dec. 25, at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Chicago Bulls and league MVP Derrick Rose visiting the Los Angeles Lakers and perennial All-Star Kobe Bryant at 5 p.m. The NBA Countdown pregame show will preview the ABC doubleheader at 2 p.m.
NBA Christmas Day action will continue on ESPN with a primetime doubleheader tipping off with the Oklahoma City Thunder and two-time NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant hosting the Orlando Magic and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard at 8 p.m. In the Christmas nightcap, former ESPN analyst Mark Jackson will make his head coaching debut with the Golden State Warriors and Monte Ellis hosting the Los Angeles Clippers and All-Star Blake Griffin at 10:30 p.m. ESPN Deportes will also televise the primetime doubleheader.
ESPN Radio, entering its 17th season of NBA action, will broadcast two Christmas Day games – the Boston Celtics and its core four of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett visiting the New York Knicks and stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire with coverage beginning at 11 a.m., followed by Heat at Mavericks.
ABC & ESPN Schedule Highlights
ABC and ESPN will combine to showcase some of the top teams in the league, including 16 appearances by the Heat (the maximum allowed across both networks), 15 by the Bulls and Lakers, 14 by the Celtics and Knicks, 12 by the Mavericks, 11 by the Thunder and 10 by the Clippers and Magic.
ABC highlights
- 15 exclusive broadcasts;
- flexible schedule allowing for the best possible matchups throughout the season;
- a special Christmas Day doubleheader including a Finals rematch between the Heat and Mavericks at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Lakers hosting the Bulls at 5 p.m.;
- five NBA Sunday doubleheaders – Dec. 25, Feb. 19, March 4, April 1 and 15;
- six appearances by the Heat; five appearances by the Lakers and Bulls; four appearances by the Celtics and Knicks; and three appearances by the Mavericks;
- Eastern Conference Finals rematch between the Bulls and Heat on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 3:30 p.m.;
- Blockbuster matchup with the Lakers hosting the Heat on Sunday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m.;
- a rematch of the 2008 and 2010 Finals with the Lakers hosting Boston on Sunday, March 11, at 3:30 p.m.;
- multiple appearances by the Thunder and Kevin Durant – hosting Chicago on Sunday, April 1, at 1 p.m. and visiting the Lakers on Sunday, April 22, at 3:30 p.m.;
- NBA Countdown will preview all games/doubleheaders 30 minutes prior to broadcast start times.
ESPN highlights
- 75-game flexible schedule allowing for the best possible games throughout the season;
- 30 doubleheaders and one tripleheader;
- 10 appearances – the most permitted – by the Bulls, Celtics, Clippers, Heat, Knicks and Lakers;
- nine appearances by the Magic, Mavericks, Suns and Thunder; eight appearances by the Spurs; seven appearances by the Nuggets and Trail Blazers; and six appearances by the Hawks, Jazz, Sixers and Warriors;
- special holiday afternoon telecasts on Martin Luther King Day – Chicago at Memphis, home of the National Civil Rights Museum, Monday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. – and Presidents Day – Atlanta at Chicago on Monday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m.;
- a series of compelling matchups including the Heat’s All-Star trio of James, Wade and Bosh hosting the Knicks with Anthony and Stoudemire (Friday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m.); Kobe Bryant and the Lakers visiting Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks (Fri., Feb. 10, at 8 p.m.); and the Bulls – the team with the best record in the league last season – hosting the Heat on Wed., March 14, at 8 p.m.;
- an exciting Oklahoma City team, led by Durant, hosting the Heat on Sun., March 25, at 8 p.m., then visiting the Heat on Wed., April 4, at 8 p.m.;
- a highly-anticipated doubleheader Tuesday, April 10, beginning at 7 p.m. with the Heat hosting the Celtics and followed by the Knicks visiting the Bulls at 9:30 p.m.;
- a unique tripleheader Saturday, April 21, tipping off at 5:30 p.m. and highlighted by the Bulls hosting the Mavericks at 8 p.m.;
- 10 games over the final week of the regular season (April 18-25) as part of the push to the playoffs.
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio will broadcast 24 regular-season games, including four doubleheaders, showcasing the best teams in the league. ESPN Radio will also broadcast All-Star events (including the 61st All-Star Game) and The Finals.
And a jump break here. Then the NBA on ESPN/ABC/ESPN Radio schedules.
2011-12 ABC NBA Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
| Sun, Dec 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Miami at Dallas |
| 5 p.m. | Chicago at L.A. Lakers | |
| Sun, Jan 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Chicago at Miami |
| Sun, Feb 12 | 3:30 p.m. | Chicago at Boston |
| Sun, Feb 19 | 1 p.m. | Dallas at New York |
| 3:30 p.m. | Orlando at Miami | |
| Sun, March 4 | 1 p.m. | New York at Boston |
| 3:30 p.m. | Miami at L.A. Lakers | |
| Sun, March 11 | 3:30 p.m. | Boston at L.A. Lakers |
| Sun, April 1 | 1 p.m. | Chicago at Oklahoma City |
| 3:30 p.m. | Miami at Boston | |
| Sun, April 8 | 1 p.m. | Chicago at New York |
| Sun, April 15 | 1 p.m. | Miami at New York |
| 3:30 p.m. | Dallas at L.A. Lakers | |
| Sun, April 22 | 3:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers |
2011-12 ESPN NBA Schedule
*denotes ESPN Deportes telecast
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
| Sun, Dec 25 | 8 p.m. | Orlando at Oklahoma City* |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Golden State* | |
| Fri, Jan 6 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at Orlando |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland at Phoenix | |
| Wed, Jan 11 | 8 p.m. | Dallas at Boston* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Miami at L.A. Clippers* | |
| Fri, Jan 13 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at Boston |
| 10:30 p.m. | Miami at Denver | |
| Sun, Jan 15 | 9 p.m. | Phoenix at San Antonio |
| Mon, Jan 16 | 1 p.m. | Chicago at Memphis |
| Wed, Jan 18 | 8 p.m. | Portland at Atlanta |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas at L.A. Clippers | |
| Fri, Jan 20 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Orlando* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Minnesota at L.A. Clippers* | |
| Fri, Jan 27 | 8 p.m. | New York at Miami |
| Sun, Jan 29 | 6:30 p.m. | San Antonio at Dallas |
| Wed, Feb 1 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Dallas |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Utah | |
| Fri, Feb 3 | 8 p.m. | New York at Boston |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Denver | |
| Fri, Feb 10 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at New York |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Utah | |
| Sun, Feb 12 | 7 p.m. | Miami at Atlanta |
| 9:30 p.m. | Utah at Memphis | |
| Wed, Feb 15 | 10 p.m. | Portland at Golden State |
| Fri, Feb 17 | 8 p.m. | New Orleans at New York |
| 10:30 p.m. | Phoenix at L.A. Lakers | |
| Sun, Feb 19 | 8 p.m. | Denver at Oklahoma City |
| Mon, Feb 20 | 4 p.m. | Atlanta at Chicago |
| Wed, Feb 22 | 7 p.m. | Boston at Oklahoma City |
| 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Dallas* | |
| Wed, Feb 29 | 9 p.m. | Chicago at San Antonio |
| Fri, March 2 | 8 p.m. | Golden State at Philadelphia |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Phoenix | |
| Sun, March 4 | 7 p.m. | Chicago at Philadelphia |
| 9:30 p.m. | Denver at San Antonio | |
| Mon, March 12 | 8 p.m. | New York at Chicago* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Boston at L.A. Clippers* | |
| Wed, March 14 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Chicago* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Utah at Phoenix | |
| Fri, March 16 | 7 p.m. | Miami at Philadelphia |
| 9:30 p.m. | San Antonio at Oklahoma City | |
| Sun, March 18 | 7 p.m. | Orlando at Miami* |
| 9:30 p.m. | Portland at Oklahoma City | |
| Wed, March 21 | 7 p.m. | New York at Philadelphia |
| 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Dallas* | |
| Fri, March 23 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Philadelphia |
| 10:30 p.m. | Denver at Utah | |
| Sun, March 25 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Oklahoma City |
| 10:30 p.m. | Memphis at L.A. Lakers | |
| Wed, March 28 | 7 p.m. | Orlando at New York* |
| Fri, March 30 | 8 p.m. | Dallas at Orlando |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland at L.A. Clippers | |
| Wed, April 4 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Miami |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers | |
| Sat, April 7 | 8 p.m. | Orlando at Philadelphia |
| 10:30 p.m. | Denver at Golden State | |
| Mon, April 9 | 9 p.m. | Phoenix at Minnesota (ESPN2) |
| Tue, April 10 | 7 p.m. | Boston at Miami* |
| 9:30 p.m. | New York at Chicago* | |
| Wed, April 11 | 8 p.m. | Atlanta at Boston |
| 10:30 p.m. | Golden State at Portland | |
| Fri, April 13 | 8 p.m. | Milwaukee at Detroit |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas at Portland | |
| Sat, April 14 | 9 p.m. | Phoenix at San Antonio |
| Wed, April 18 | 8 p.m. | Orlando at Boston* |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Golden State* | |
| Fri, April 20 | 7 p.m. | Boston at Atlanta |
| 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at San Antonio | |
| Sat, April 21 | 5:30 p.m. | Denver at Phoenix |
| 8 p.m. | Dallas at Chicago | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Orlando at Utah | |
| Sun, April 22 | 1 p.m. | New York at Atlanta |
| Wed, April 25 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at New York* |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio at Phoenix* |
2011-12 ESPN Radio NBA Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
| Sun, Dec 25 | 11 a.m. | Boston at New York |
| Miami at Dallas | ||
| Thu, Jan 12 | 7:15 p.m. | New York at Memphis |
| Thu, Jan 19 | 7:15 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Miami |
| Thu, Jan 26 | 7:15 p.m. | Boston at Orlando |
| Sun, Jan 29 | 2:30 p.m. | Chicago at Miami |
| Thu, Feb 2 | 7:15 p.m. | Chicago at New York |
| Thu, Feb 9 | 7:15 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Boston |
| Sun, Feb 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Chicago at Boston |
| Thu, Feb 16 | 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Portland |
| Sun, Feb 19 | 12 p.m. | Dallas at New York |
| Orlando at Miami | ||
| Fri, Feb 24 | T BD | T-Mobile Rookie Challenge |
| Sat, Feb 25 | TBD | Meet the All-Stars |
| Sat, Feb 25 | TBD | All-Star Saturday Night |
| Sun, Feb 26 | TBD | All-Star Game |
| Thu, March 1 | 7:15 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Orlando |
| Sun, March 4 | 12 p.m. | New York at Boston |
| Miami at L.A. Lakers | ||
| Sun, March 11 | 2:30 p.m. | Boston at L.A. Lakers |
| Miami at Chicago | ||
| Thu, March 14 | 7 p.m. | Miami at Chicago |
| Thu, March 21 | 8:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Dallas |
| Thu, March 29 | 7 p.m. | Dallas at Miami |
| Sun, April 1 | 12 p.m. | Chicago at Oklahoma City |
| Miami at Boston | ||
| Sun, April 8 | 12 p.m. | Chicago at New York |
| Sun, April 15 | 2:30 p.m. | Dallas at L.A. Lakers |
| Sun, April 22 | 2:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers |
TNT is next.
