NBC Sports will present 26 regular-season NBA games,
plus the All-Star Game, in its eighth season of coverage.
The "NBA on NBC" will debut on Christmas Day. Nine
doubleheaders will be featured on NBC's 14-week schedule.
The All-Star Game will be televised in prime time on Sunday,
February 8, from MSG. Regular-season weekend coverage will
conclude on Saturday, April 18, with a prime time Knicks-
Bulls game, followed by a regional "wild card" game that
will feature one of four matchups on Sunday, April 19 (NBC).
AT TURNER: TNT/TBS will begin their regular season with
doubleheader coverage on the season's opening night. For the
season, TNT will broadcast 47 games; TBS, 23. TNT will also
televise events from All-Star Weekend. All 29 teams appear
on TNT or TBS during the season, with the Bulls, Lakers,
Heat and Knicks scheduled for 13 telecasts each. The Cavs,
Mavs, Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Bucks, Nets, 76ers,
Kings, Raptors and Grizzlies will appear once (TBS).
BIG WINNERS: The Bulls, Lakers and Knicks will appear
on NBC eight times, which gives them the league maximum of
21 national TV appearances (David DuPree, USA TODAY, 7/23).
The Heat will be on NBC six times, for 19 national TV games,
the second highest total in the NBA (MIAMI HERALD, 7/23).
