The NBA’s Network of Record, TNT will be quite busy in the first week of the 2011-12 season. Not only will it have the very first game of the season on Christmas Day, Celtics-Knicks, but it will also have doubleheaders on Tuesday night, December 27 and its regularly scheduled Thursday night, December 29. In those five games, the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers will all be featured twice. The defending champion Dallas Mavericks get their first TNT appearance of the season next Thursday.
As usual, the Inside the NBA gang of Ernie Johnson, Jr., Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and new addition Shaquille O’Neal will be seen before and after the games. We have the TNT schedule for you.
TNT Tips off the 2011-12 NBA Season with the Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks at Noon (ET) on Christmas Day
Coverage continues on Dec. 27 with Celtics @ Heat followed by Jazz @ Lakers and on Dec. 29 with Mavericks @ Thunder followed by Knicks @ Lakers
Turner Broadcasting tips off its 28th year of NBA coverage with NBA on TNT Premiere Week beginning on Sunday, Dec. 25. The day will begin with a special hour-long preview show, TNT NBA Tip-Off at 11 a.m. (ET) with two-time Emmy® award-winning host Ernie Johnson, along with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley (analyst) and two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith (analyst) and the TNT debut of four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal (analyst). Following the pre-game show, the regular season will once again tip off on TNT at Noon (ET) with exclusive coverage of Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics visiting Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks. Marv Albert (play-by-play) will call the game alongside analyst Steve Kerr; with Craig Sager reporting.
NBA on TNT Premiere Week continues on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. (ET) with an exclusive doubleheader featuring LeBron James and the Miami Heat hosting the Celtics. Calling the action will be Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello and Kerr (analysts); with Sager (reporter). The second game will feature Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers hosting Al Jefferson and the Utah Jazz at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Kevin Harlan will handle the play-by-play duties with analyst Reggie Miller; while Cheryl Miller will report courtside. Following the second game, Inside the NBA with Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith will recap the night’s action.
TNT’s NBA action continues on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. (ET) with another exclusive doubleheader featuring Dirk Nowitzki and the defending NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks visiting Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Calling the action will be Albert (play-by-play), Fratello and Kerr (analysts) with David Aldridge (reporter). The second game will feature Amar’e Stoudemire and the Knicks taking on Pau Gasol and the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Harlan (play-by-play) will be courtside along with analyst Reggie Miller and Sager reporting. Following the second game, Inside the NBA with Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith will recap the action.
NBA ON TNT NBA SCHEDULE:
Sunday, December 25 11 a.m. TNT NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) 12 p.m. Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter) Post-game Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) NBA ON TNT UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, December 27 8 p.m. TNT NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter) 10:30 p.m. Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Cheryl Miller (reporter) Post-game Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) Thursday, December 29 8 p.m. TNT NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter) 10:30 p.m. New York Knicks @ Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter) Post-game Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
That’s all for this post.
