The NBA recently released its complete game schedule and broadcast schedules on ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, and NBA on ESPN Radio for the 2011-12 season, in the event that the NBA is able to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBPA in a timely fashion.
The league’s 66th season tips off on Nov. 1 (Nov.2 in Davao), as part of Kia Motors NBA Tip-Off ‘11, with two games on TNT — the 16th straight season the league opens with a doubleheader on TNT.
In the first game, the Dallas Mavericks open defense of their NBA title by hosting the Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET). The Mavs won an NBA-best 62 games last season. Before the game, TNT will televise the championship ring ceremony.
The second game features two Western Conference teams with their own championship aspirations as the Oklahoma City Thunder visits the Los Angeles Lakers.
This is the fourth consecutive season that Kia Motors, the official Automotive Partner of the NBA, has been the lead partner of NBA Tip-Off. Kia Motors NBA Tip-Off ‘11 features a combined eight nationally televised games in the first four days on TNT and ESPN. The latter opens its 10th consecutive year of NBA coverage on Wednesday, Nov. 2 (Nov.3 in Davao), with a doubleheader, featuring the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat visiting its conference rival New York Knicks, followed by the Lakers visiting rookie coach Mark Jackson and the Golden State Warriors.
NBA TV tips off its 96-game slate on Saturday, Nov. 5 (Nov.6 in Davao), when the Mavericks welcome the Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals. For the fourth consecutive year, NBA TV will feature Fan Night on Tuesdays throughout the season. On Fan Night, NBA fans are given the opportunity to vote for the games they want to see televised nationally on NBA TV on that particular night.
