TNT will tip off the NBA season Oct. 29 with the defending champion Miami Heat celebrating last year's title against the Chicago Bulls, which will return with star Derrick Rose after more than a year's absence.
The broadcast, part of an exclusive doubleheader, will also feature a Tinseltown showdown as the Los Angeles Lakers play their in-town rival and Staples Center co-tenant Clippers in the late game. This marks the 12th straight year that TNT will televise the opening games of the NBA season. The "drama" network will air 52 regular-season games in total, including 20 Thursday night twinbills.
The league, which unveiled the entire 2013-14 schedule Tuesday, will again play five games across ESPN and ABC on Christmas Day. ESPN will carry the Bulls against the Brooklyn Nets at noon ET and the primetime doubleheader of Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers vs Golden State Warriors. ABC will air the Oklahoma City Thunder vs New York Knicks at 2:30 p.m. and the Heat vs Lakers at 5 p.m.
ESPN's first telecast of the season will come Nov. 1 with a doubleheader featuring Heat vs Nets and Lakers vs Spurs. All told, the worldwide leader will aid 75 games, while broadcast brethren ABC has a 15 contest- lineup.
TNT will air the All-Star Game Feb. 14 from New Orleans.
NBA TV begins its coverage Oct. 30 with Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers followed by Lakers vs Warriors, the first two of 97 game telecasts.
The 2013-14 season will also see longtime commissioner David Stern step down Feb. 1, 2014, giving way to deputy commissioner Adam Silver.
