90-Game Flexible Schedule; 2011 NBA Finals Rematch Part of Christmas Day Tripleheader
ESPN’s multiplatform coverage of the 2011-12 NBA regular season will include 90 games, highlighted by 15 exclusive ABC broadcasts – 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 all ESPN telecasts also available via ESPN3.com and nearly all on ESPN Mobile TV. Additionally, fans who receive their cable TV video subscription from an affiliated provider will be able to tune in live via the WatchESPN app on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
ESPN Radio will broadcast 30 games, while ESPN Deportes (ESPN’s Spanish-language U.S. sports network) will televise 19 games.
Opening Week on ESPN
ESPN’s coverage will tip off with a doubleheader Wednesday, Nov. 2 – the Miami Heat and their core of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh visiting the New York Knicks, featuring Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, at 8 p.m., followed by the Golden State Warriors, led by new head coach Mark Jackson, hosting the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant at 10:30 p.m. ESPN Deportes will also televise the Nov. 2 doubleheader.
Opening week action will continue with a doubleheader Friday, Nov. 4 – the Boston Celtics and All-Stars Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo visiting the Atlanta Hawks and All-Stars Al Horford and Joe Johnson at 8 p.m., followed by the L.A. Clippers and 2011 Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin hosting the Portland Trail Blazers and Brandon Roy at 10:30 p.m.
Both doubleheaders will also be available via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV. NBA Countdown will precede the Wednesday and Friday doubleheaders with a preview show at 7:30 p.m.
Additionally, ESPN Radio will broadcast the Chicago Bulls and 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose visiting the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. and the Heat hosting the Orlando Magic and 2011 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m.
ESPN & ABC Combine for Christmas Day Tripleheader
Collectively, ESPN and ABC will present three Christmas Day games highlighted by a marquee doubleheader on ABC featuring a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals – Miami at the champion Mavericks and Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki – Sunday, Dec. 25, at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Los Angeles Lakers – back-to-back NBA champions in 2009 and 2010 – hosting the Bulls and Rose at 5 p.m. ABC’s NBA Countdown pregame show will preview the action at 2 p.m. ESPN Radio will broadcast the Heat/Mavericks matchup 2:30 p.m. ESPN’s Christmas Day telecast will precede the ABC doubleheader, showcasing Eastern Conference rivals when the New York Knicks host the Boston Celtics at noon.
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 Lakers, 14 by the Celtics, Bulls and Knicks, 13 by the Mavericks, 11 by the Oklahoma City Thunder and 10 by the San Antonio Spurs.
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 – Feb. 19, March 4, April 1, 8 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 Jan. 29 at 3:30 p.m.;
§ Blockbuster matchup with the Lakers hosting the Heat on March 4 at 3:30 p.m.;
§ a rematch of the 2008 and 2010 Finals with the Lakers hosting the Celtics on March 11 at 3:30 p.m.;
§ multiple appearances by the Thunder and Kevin Durant – hosting Chicago on April 1 at 1 p.m. and the Lakers on April 8 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;
§ 31 doubleheaders;
§ 10 appearances – the most permitted – by the Celtics, Heat, Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks and Spurs;
§ nine appearances by the Bulls, Nuggets, Thunder and Trail Blazers; eight appearances by the Clippers and Phoenix Suns; seven appearances by the Hawks; six appearances by the Warriors; and five appearances by the Magic;
§ opening week doubleheaders: Wed., Nov. 2 – Miami at New York at 8 p.m., followed by the Warriors hosting the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. and Fri., Nov. 4 – Boston visiting the Hawks at 8 p.m., prior to the Trail Blazers visiting the Clippers at 10:30 p.m.;
§ the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony making his first return trip to Denver to face his former Nuggets team Wed., Nov. 16, at 10:30 p.m.;
§ LeBron James and the Heat visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers on Fri., Nov. 18, at 8 p.m.;
§ two of the most exciting teams in the league – Oklahoma City vs. Miami – on Fri., Dec. 23, at 8 p.m.;
§ the Celtics visiting the Knicks on Christmas Day at noon;
§ Los Angeles’ Lakers and Clippers meeting on Fri., Jan. 20, at 10:30 p.m.;
§ the Lakers and Bryant visiting Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks on Fri., Feb. 10, at 8 p.m.;
§ the Thunder and Kendrick Perkins hosting his former team, the Boston Celtics, Wed., Feb. 22, at 8 p.m.;
§ Eastern Conference Finals rematch – Miami at Chicago – Wed., March 14, at 10:30 p.m.
ESPN Radio
The NBA on ESPN Radio will tip off its 17th season Tuesday, Nov. 1, when the Mavericks and Nowitzki host the Bulls and Rose at 8 p.m. ESPN Radio’s 30-game regular-season schedule will include 12 appearances by the Heat, nine by the Lakers and eight by the Celtics and Mavericks. ESPN Radio will also exclusively broadcast The Finals and NBA All-Star events including the All-Star Game.
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 |
| 3:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City | |
| Sun, April 15 | 1 p.m. | Miami at New York |
| 3:30 p.m. | Dallas at L.A. Lakers |
2011-12 ESPN NBA Schedule
* denotes ESPN and ESPN Deportes telecast
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
| Wed, Nov 2 | 8 p.m. | Miami at New York* |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Golden State* | |
| Fri, Nov 4 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Atlanta |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland at L.A. Clippers | |
| Wed, Nov 9 | 8 p.m. | Houston at Philadelphia |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio at L.A. Lakers* | |
| Fri, Nov 11 | 10:30 p.m. | Denver at L.A. Lakers |
| Wed, Nov 16 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Miami |
| 10:30 p.m. | New York at Denver | |
| Fri, Nov 18 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Cleveland |
| 10:30 p.m. | Chicago at Phoenix | |
| Wed, Nov 23 | 7:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City |
| Fri, Nov 25 | 7 p.m. | Houston at Minnesota |
| Fri, Dec 2 | 10:30 p.m. | Indiana at Portland |
| Wed, Dec 7 | 7 p.m. | San Antonio at New York* |
| 9:30 p.m. | Dallas at Chicago | |
| Fri, Dec 9 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Dallas |
| 10:30 p.m. | Orlando at Phoenix | |
| Tue, Dec 13 | 7 p.m. | Denver at Memphis |
| 9:30 p.m. | Atlanta at Chicago | |
| Wed, Dec 14 | 8 p.m. | Orlando at Oklahoma City |
| 10:30 p.m. | Golden State at Utah | |
| Fri, Dec 16 | 7 p.m. | Atlanta at Philadelphia |
| 9:30 p.m. | San Antonio at Oklahoma City | |
| Fri, Dec 23 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Miami |
| 10:30 p.m. | Phoenix at Portland | |
| Sun, Dec 25 | 12 p.m. | Boston at New York* |
| Fri, Jan 6 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at Orlando |
| 10:30 p.m. | Memphis at Orlando | |
| Wed, Jan 11 | 8 p.m. | Dallas at Boston* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Miami at L.A. Clippers* | |
| Fri, Jan 13 | 8 p.m. | Portland at San Antonio |
| 10:30 p.m. | Miami at Denver | |
| Mon, Jan 16 | 1 p.m. | Chicago at Memphis |
| Wed, Jan 18 | 8 p.m. | San Antonio at Atlanta |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas at L.A. Clippers* | |
| Fri, Jan 20 | 8 p.m. | Phoenix at Boston |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers | |
| Fri, Jan 27 | 8 p.m. | New York at Miami |
| Wed, Feb 1 | 7 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Dallas |
| 9:30 p.m. | Miami at San Antonio* | |
| Fri, Feb 3 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Orlando |
| 10:30 p.m. | Utah at Denver | |
| Fri, Feb 10 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at New York* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Utah | |
| Wed, Feb 15 | 9 p.m. | Denver at Dallas |
| 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 |
| Wed, Feb 22 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Oklahoma City |
| 10:30 p.m. | Golden State at Phoenix | |
| Wed, Feb 29 | 9 p.m. | Portland at Denver |
| Fri, March 2 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Atlanta |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Phoenix | |
| Sun, March 4 | 8 p.m. | Denver at San Antonio* |
| Sun, March 12 | 8 p.m. | New York at Chicago* |
| 10:30 p.m. | Boston at Phoenix* | |
| Wed, March 14 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Chicago |
| 10:30 p.m. | Boston at Golden State | |
| Wed, March 21 | 7 p.m. | New York at Philadelphia |
| 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Dallas* | |
| Sun, March 25 | 8 p.m. | Boston at San Antonio* |
| Wed, March 28 | 7 p.m. | Chicago at Atlanta |
| Fri, March 30 | 8 p.m. | Dallas at Orlando |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland at L.A. Clippers | |
| Wed, April 4 | 7 p.m. | San Antonio at Boston |
| 9:30 p.m. | Memphis at Dallas | |
| Tue, April 10 | 7 p.m. | Atlanta at Miami* |
| 9:30 p.m. | New York at Chicago* | |
| Wed, April 11 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at San Antonio |
| 10:30 p.m. | Golden State at Portland | |
| Fri, April 13 | 8 p.m. | Milwaukee at Detroit |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas at Portland | |
| Wed, April 18 | 8 p.m. | Toronto at Washington |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Golden State* |
2011-12 ESPN Radio NBA Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
| Tue, Nov 1 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at Dallas |
| Thu, Nov 3 | 8 p.m. | Orlando at Miami |
| Wed, Nov 9 | 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio at L.A. Lakers |
| Wed, Nov 16 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Miami |
| Thu, Dec 1 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Boston |
| Thu, Dec 8 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Miami |
| Thu, Dec 15 | 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Dallas |
| Thu, Dec 22 | 8 p.m. | New York at Boston |
| Sun, Dec 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Miami at Dallas |
| Thu, Jan 12 | 8 p.m. | New York at Memphis |
| Thu, Jan 19 | 10:30 p.m. | Dallas at Utah |
| Thu, Jan 26 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Orlando |
| Sun, Jan 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Chicago at Miami |
| Thu, Feb 2 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at New York |
| Thu, Feb 9 | 8 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Boston |
| Sun, Feb 12 | 3:30 p.m. | Chicago at Boston |
| Thu, Feb 16 | 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Clippers at Portland |
| Sun, Feb 19 | 1 p.m. | New York at Boston |
| 3:30 p.m. | Orlando at Miami | |
| Thu, March 1 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City at Orlando |
| 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 |
| Wed, March 14 | 8 p.m. | Miami at Chicago |
| Wed, March 21 | 9:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Dallas |
| Thu, March 29 | 8 p.m. | Dallas at Miami |
| Sun, April 1 | 1 p.m. | Chicago at Oklahoma City |
| 3:30 p.m. | Miami at Boston | |
| Sun, April 8 | 3:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City |
| Sun, April 15 | 3:30 p.m. | Dallas at L.A. Lakers |
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