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We're just about 75 days from the start of the 2015-2016 NBA regular season and on Wednesday the season inched even closer as the NBA announced the schedule for the upcoming year.
The national TV schedule can ultimately change as the NBA flexes matchups into prime time, but as things stand now the two teams fans around the country will be seeing most frequently are the Cleveland Cavaliers and defending champion Golden State Warriors. Both teams will appear on ESPN, ABC and TNT a total of 25 times. The Clippers and Thunder will each play 24 nationally-televised games, while the Bulls will play 23, the Spurs 21 and the Lakers 19. The Pelicans and Anthony Davis will play 13 games on national TV.
TNT will be the home for the first national broadcast of the season, a doubleheader on Wednesday Oct. 27. The first game will feature the Cavaliers and Bulls, in Chicago. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. ET. Following that the defending champion Warriors will take on the Pelicans in front of what promises to be a booming Golden State crowd. Tip-off for that game is at 10:30 p.m.
Only three teams in the league won't be seen on a national broadcast all season: the Nuggets, Pistons and Sixers. The Knicks, after playing 16 nationally-televised games last season, will only get seven this year.
Here's a list of the how many games each team will have on national TV. A total of 143 games will air on ABC, ESPN and TNT this season.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 25
- Golden State Warriors: 25
- Los Angeles Clippers: 24
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 24
- Chicago Bulls: 23
- San Antonio Spurs: 21
- Houston Rockets: 19
- Los Angeles Lakers: 19
- New Orleans Pelicans: 13
- Miami Heat: 11
- Memphis Grizzlies: 10
- Atlanta Hawks: 8
- Boston Celtics: 7
- Indiana Pacers: 7
- Dallas Mavericks: 7
- New York Knicks: 7
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 5
- Phoenix Suns: 5
- Portland Trail Blazers: 5
- Washington Wizards: 5
- Milwaukee Bucks: 4
- Sacramento Kings: 4
- Utah Jazz: 3
- Toronto Raptors: 2
- Brooklyn Nets: 1
- Charlotte Hornets: 1
- Orlando Magic: 1
- Denver Nuggets: 0
- Detroit Pistons: 0
- Philadelphia 76ers: 0
The second major day on the national TV calendar is Christmas, when five games will air nationally. The highlight of the Dec. 25 slate is the Finals rematch between the Cavaliers and Warriors in Golden State, at 5 p.m. and on ABC. Also on the schedule is Miami at New Orleans (Noon, ESPN); Oklahoma City at Chicago (2:30 p.m., ABC); Houston at San Antonio (8 p.m., ESPN); and Clippers *at* Lakers (10:30 p.m., ESPN).
The final big national TV day will be Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. That day will feature Memphis at New Orleans (2:30 p.m., ESPN); Atlanta at Orlando (5 p.m., NBA TV); Cleveland once again at Golden State (8 p.m., TNT); and the Clippers in Houston (10:30 p.m., TNT).
The other day of note is Wednesday, Nov. 11, when ESPN will air a doubleheader featuring DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers taking on the Mavericks in Dallas. In the nightcap, LaMarcus Aldridge will return to Portland for the first time as a member of the Spurs.
This year's national TV schedule will differ from years past. ABC will begin airing games on Saturday nights starting on Jan. 23 (Chicago at Cleveland). Those games will not be the only ones on the schedule, as ABC agreed not to have exclusivity to help the NBA reduce the amount of back-to-backs. The same goes for TNT on Thursday nights.
2015-16 NBA National TV Schedule
Game/Time | Network | Matchup |
Oct. 27, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Bulls vs. Cavaliers |
Oct. 27, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Warriors vs. Pelicans |
Oct. 28, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Thunder vs. Spurs |
Oct. 28, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Lakers vs. Timberwolves |
Oct. 29 1, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Knicks vs. Hawks |
Oct. 29, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Clippers vs. Mavericks |
Oct. 30, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Cavaliers vs. Heat |
Oct. 30, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Rockets |
Nov. 4, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Cavaliers vs. Knicks |
Nov. 4, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Clippers |
Nov. 5, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Bulls vs. Thunder |
Nov. 5, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Blazers vs Grizzlies |
Nov. 6, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Pacers vs. Heat |
Nov. 6, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Kings vs. Rockets |
Nov. 11, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Mavericks vs. Clippers |
Nov. 11, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Blazers vs. Spurs |
Nov. 12, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Timberwolves vs. Warriors |
Nov. 12, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Suns vs. Clippers |
Nov. 18, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Thunder vs. Pelicans |
Nov. 18, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Suns vs. Bulls |
Nov. 19, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Cavaliers vs. Bucks |
Nov. 19, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Clippers vs. Warriors |
Nov. 20, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Pelicans vs. Spurs |
Nov. 20, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Bulls |
Nov. 24 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Hawks vs. Celtics |
Nov, 24, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Warriors vs. Lakers |
Dec. 3. 7 p.m. ET | TNT | Heat vs. Thunder |
Dec 3. 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Grizzlies vs. Spurs |
Dec. 4, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Knicks vs. Nets |
Dec. 4, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Pelicans vs. Cavaliers |
Dec. 9, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Celtics vs. Bulls |
Dec. 9, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Mavericks vs. Hawks |
Dec. 10, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Bulls vs. Clippers |
Dec. 10, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Kings vs. Knicks |
Dec. 11, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Pacers vs. Heat |
Dec. 11, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Spurs vs. Laker |
Dec. 16, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Bulls vs. Grizzlies |
Dec. 16, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Clippers vs. Bucks |
Dec. 17, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Cavaliers vs. Thunder |
Dec. 17, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Lakers vs. Rockets |
Dec. 18, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Spurs vs. Clippers |
Dec. 18 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Suns vs. Pelicans |
Dec. 25, 12 p.m. ET | ESPN | Heat vs. Pelicans |
Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Thunder vs. Bulls |
Dec. 25, 5 p.m. ET | ABC | Warriors vs. Cavaliers |
Dec. 25, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Rockets vs. Spurs |
Dec. 25, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Lakers vs. Clippers |
Jan. 6, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Heat vs. Knicks |
Jan. 6, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Thunder vs. Grizzlies |
Jan. 7, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Bulls vs. Celtics |
Jan. 7, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Kings vs. Lakers |
Jan. 8, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers |
Jan. 8, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Lakers vs. Thunder |
Jan. 13, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Celtics vs. Pacers |
Jan. 13, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Clippers vs. Heat |
Jan. 14, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Spurs vs. Cavaliers |
Jan. 14, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Warriors vs. Lakers |
Jan. 15, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Thunder vs Timberwolves |
Jan 15, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Rockets vs. Cavaliers |
Jan. 18, 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Grizzlies vs. Pelicans |
Jan. 18, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Cavaliers vs. Warriors |
Jan. 18, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Clippers vs. Rockets |
Jan. 20, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Bulls vs. Warriors |
Jan. 20, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Blazers vs. Hawks |
Jan. 21, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Cavaliers vs. Clippers |
Jan. 21, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Suns vs. Spurs |
Jan. 22, 8: p.m. ET | ESPN | Raptors vs. Heat |
Jan 22. 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Pacers |
Jan. 23, 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Cavaliers vs. Bulls |
Jan. 27, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Spurs vs. Rockets |
Jan. 27, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Mavericks |
Jan. 28, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Raptors vs. Knicks |
Jan. 28, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Lakers vs. Bulls |
Jan. 30, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Cavaliers vs. Spurs |
Jan. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Clippers vs. Bulls |
Feb. 3, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Wizards vs. Warriors |
Feb. 3, 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | Clippers vs. Timberwolves |
Feb. 4, 8 p.m. | TNT | Pelicans vs. Lakers |
Feb. 4, 10:30 p.m. | TNT | Suns vs. Rockets |
Feb. 5, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Hawks vs. Pacers |
Feb. 6, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Mavericks vs. Spurs |
Feb. 6, 9 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Thunder |
Feb. 7, 3 p.m. ET | ABC | Heat vs. Clippers |
Feb. 9, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Knicks vs. Wizards |
Feb. 9, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Warriors vs. Rockets |
Feb.10, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Cavaliers vs. Lakers |
Feb. 10, 10:30 | ESPN | Blazers vs. Wizards |
Feb. 11, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Thunder vs. Pelicans |
Feb 18, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Cavaliers vs. Bulls |
Feb. 18, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Clippers vs. Spurs |
Feb. 19. 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Thunder vs. Pacers |
Feb. 19, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Jazz vs. Celtics |
Feb. 20, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Clippers vs. Warriors |
Feb. 21, 3:30 | ABC | Thunder vs. Cavaliers |
Feb. 21, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Bulls vs. Lakers |
Feb. 24, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Bulls vs. Wizards |
Feb 24, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Kings vs. Spurs |
Feb 25, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Pelicans vs. Thunder |
Feb. 25, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Jazz vs. Spurs |
Feb. 26, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Hawks vs. Bulls |
Feb. 26, 10:30 | ESPN | Lakers vs. Grizzlies |
Feb. 27, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Thunder vs. Warriors |
Mar. 2, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Rockets vs. Pelicans |
Mar. 2, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Clippers vs. Thunder |
Mar. 3, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Pelicans vs. Spurs |
Mar. 3, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Warriors vs. Thunder |
Mar. 4, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Cavaliers vs. Wizards |
Mar. 4, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Lakers vs. Hawks |
Mar. 5, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Bulls vs. Rockets |
Mar. 6, 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Lakers vs. Warriors |
Mar. 9, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Bucks vs. Heat |
Mar. 9, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Thunder vs. Clippers |
Mar. 10, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Spurs vs. Bulls |
Mar. 12, 8:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Lakers vs. Cavaliers |
Mar. 12, 8 p.m. ET | ABC | Spurs vs. Thunder |
Mar. 13, 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Clippers vs. Cavaliers |
Mar. 14, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Rockets vs. Grizzlies |
Mar. 14, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Pelicans |
Mar. 16, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Celtics vs. Thunder |
Mar. 16, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Rockets vs. Clippers |
Mar. 19, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Spurs vs. Warriors |
Mar. 22, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Thunder vs. Rockets |
Mar. 22, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Lakers vs. Grizzlies |
Mar. 23, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Cavaliers vs. Bucks |
Mar. 23, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Blazers vs. Mavericks |
Mar. 29, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Cavaliers vs. Rockets |
Mar. 29, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Warriors vs. Wizards |
Mar. 31, 7 p.m. ET | TNT | Rockets vs. Bulls |
Mar. 31, 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Thunder vs. Clippers |
April 1, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Hawks vs. Cavaliers |
April 1, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Warriors vs. Celtics |
April 3, 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Rockets vs. Thunder |
April 5, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Grizzlies vs. Bulls |
April 5, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Clippers vs. Lakers |
April 6, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN | Pacers vs. Cavaliers |
April 6, 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Mavericks vs. Rockets |
April 7, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Heat vs. Bulls |
April 7, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Spurs vs. Warriors |
April 9, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Bulls vs. Cavaliers |
April 12, 8 p.m. ET | TNT | Spurs vs. Thunder |
April 12, 10:30 p.m. ET | TNT | Clippers vs. Grizzlies |
April 13, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Hornets vs. Magic |
April 13, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN | Lakers vs. Jazz |