Though it is more likely that reruns of Bones and Law & Order will be airing on TNT Thursday nights this fall, the network’s NBA schedule is dotted with several high-profile matchups.
On paper, TNT looks to have the strongest schedule of the NBA’s television partners, as the network’s 52-game slate features a marquee matchup almost every week.
In four consecutive weeks in December, TNT will air Heat/Celtics (Dec. 1), Lakers/Heat (Dec. 8), Lakers/Mavericks (Dec. 15) and Knicks/Celtics (Dec. 22), four games featuring contending teams with star players.
That will be followed by an even more impressive stretch in the early part of the year, with Mavericks/Lakers (Jan. 16), Bulls/Heat (Jan. 19), Heat/Magic (Jan. 26), Bulls/Knicks (Feb. 2), Lakers/Celtics (Feb. 9), Celtics/Bulls (Feb. 16), Celtics/Mavericks (Feb. 20) and Knicks/Heat (Feb. 23) leading into the NBA All-Star Break.
Of course, there is no guarantee that any of those games will actually be played, and no guarantee that the teams will even look the same after a new collective bargaining agreement is signed.
With Turner Sports again airing the NCAA Tournament, the TNT NBA schedule will be fairly light in the month of March. There will be two weeks without any Thursday night games (March 15 and 22), though TNT will air a Monday night doubleheader on March 19.
The network’s regular season coverage ends with an April 17 doubleheader featuring Celtics/Knicks and Spurs/Lakers.
Overall, the Celtics, Mavericks and Lakers will make the most appearances on TNT (10), followed by the Bulls and Heat (9), and the Knicks, Thunder and Magic (8).
(Information from Turner Sports)
