ESPN Unveils NBA Opening Week, Christmas Day and MLK Day Schedules

To say the NBA has frontloaded its schedule with Miami Heat appearances is like saying we breathe oxygen. TNT has Miami on Opening Night, then ESPN gets them three nights later. And there’s Christmas Day where you know Miami and its Three Egos will featured in the 5 p.m. ET game. You’ll see the Heat a lot. In addition, ESPN gets its first ever Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game. Here’s the schedule.

NBA Christmas Day Blockbuster – Heat vs. Lakers – on ABC

ESPN Opening Week Doubleheaders Wednesday & Friday; First-Ever Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Game on ESPN

The NBA Christmas Day tradition will continue with a blockbuster doubleheader on ABC highlighted by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and Finals MVP Kobe Bryant hosting the Miami Heat and the recently established nucleus of league MVP LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh Saturday, Dec. 25, at 5 p.m. ET.  It will be the first meeting between the teams this season. The doubleheader will tip off when the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics visit the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard, 2010 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, at 2:30 p.m. The NBA Countdown pregame show will preview the action at 2 p.m.  ESPN Radio will broadcast the Heat/Lakers matchup with coverage beginning at 4:15 p.m.

In addition to ABC’s doubleheader, ESPN will televise three Christmas Day games including the New York Knicks and offseason acquisition Amar’e Stoudemire hosting the Chicago Bulls, led by All-Star point guard Derrick Rose and newcomer Carlos Boozer, at 12 p.m. ESPN will also televise an evening doubleheader featuring a pair of the NBA’s elite forwards when the Denver Nuggets and Carmelo Anthony face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant at 8 p.m., and a new-look Golden State Warriors, with the addition of David Lee joining rookie standout Stephen Curry, hosting the Portland Trail Blazers and All-Star Brandon Roy at 10:30 p.m. 

ESPN’s games will also be seen via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV. ESPN Deportes will televise the Bulls/Knicks and Nuggets/Thunder matchups.

Christmas Day Schedule

Time (ET)	Teams	Networks
12 p.m.	Chicago at New York Knicks	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes
2:30 p.m.	Boston at Orlando	ABC, ABC HD
5 p.m.	Miami at Los Angeles Lakers	ABC, ABC HD, ESPN Radio (4:15 p.m.)
8 p.m.	Denver at Oklahoma City	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes
10:30 p.m.	Portland at Golden State	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com & ESPN Mobile TV

Opening Week Doubleheaders on ESPN; Opening Night on ESPN Radio

ESPN will open its 2010 NBA schedule with a doubleheader on Wednesday, Oct. 27, when Oklahoma City hosts Chicago at 8 p.m. and Portland visits the Los Angeles Clippers, in the anticipated professional debut of Blake Griffin, at 10:30 p.m. Opening week action will continue with an ESPN doubleheader on Friday, Oct. 29, featuring a marquee Eastern Conference showdown – Orlando vs. Miami – at 8 p.m., and the Phoenix Suns and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash hosting the L.A. Lakers at 10:30 p.m.  ESPN’s games will also be seen via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV. NBA Shootaround will preview both doubleheaders at 7:30 p.m. ESPN Deportes will televise the Friday doubleheader.

Additionally, ESPN Radio will broadcast the Opening Night showdown between Miami and Boston on Tuesday, Oct. 26, with coverage beginning at 7:15 p.m.

ESPN’s Opening Week Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Teams	Networks
Tue., Oct. 26	7:15 p.m.	Miami at Boston	ESPN Radio
Wed., Oct. 27	8 p.m.	Chicago at Oklahoma City	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com & ESPN Mobile TV
	10:30 p.m.	Portland at L.A. Clippers	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com & ESPN Mobile TV
Fri., Oct. 29	8 p.m.	Orlando at Miami	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes
	10:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Phoenix	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Deportes

First Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Game on ESPN

For the first time, ESPN will televise a game on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day when the Memphis Grizzlies host Chicago and Rose (who played college basketball at the University of Memphis) Monday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. The National Civil Rights Museum is located in Memphis.

There you have it. One more NBA press release coming up.