It took 15 years, but an NBA tripleheader will once again air on broadcast television.
ABC will televise a Christmas Day NBA tripleheader, the league announced Thursday, the first NBA tripleheader on broadcast television since games last aired on NBC in 2002. Coverage begins with a Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals rematch at 3 PM ET, followed by Wizards-Celtics at 5:30 and Rockets-Thunder at 8:00.
The move is the result of a calendar quirk. Christmas is taking place on a Monday for the first time since 2006, leaving Monday Night Football broadcaster ESPN unable to televise a Christmas night doubleheader as in previous years. In addition to ABC taking the 8 PM window, TNT will televise T’Wolves-Lakers at 10:30.
ESPN will air its traditional Noon game on the holiday, Sixers-Knicks.
The NBA season will begin on October 17 with Celtics-Cavaliers and Rockets-Warriors on TNT. ESPN has Sixers-Wizards and T’Wolves-Spurs the following night. The full NBA schedule has not yet been finalized and will be released next week.
[News from NBA.com 8.10]
