NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Returns with Special Doubleheader Highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James vs. Houston Rockets and James Harden January 19; Plus Lakers Host Rockets in Home-Opener October 20 on ESPN

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC is Back On Super Bowl Sunday as the Boston Celtics and Kyrie Irving Host the Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook

LeBron James Returns to Cleveland as the Lakers Visit the Cavaliers, Defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors Host the Oklahoma City Thunder during Special Thanksgiving Eve Doubleheader

Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers to Appear 15 Times or More

The 2018-19 ESPN and ABC NBA regular-season schedule will feature 101 live game telecasts, including 84 on ESPN and 17 on ABC, starting with a prime-time doubleheader on Wednesday, October 17. In addition to the regular-season, ESPN will televise NBA preseason games and ESPN and ABC will combine to televise up to 44 NBA Playoffs telecasts, culminating with exclusive coverage of the 2019 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV on ABC. This season, ESPN will exclusively televise the Western Conference Finals. All ESPN and ABC NBA telecasts are available via the ESPN App. The 2018-19 season will mark the 17th consecutive year that ESPN has televised NBA games.

The NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC series will return for its fourth season and will feature a marquee slate filled with the league’s best teams and most compelling matchups. The schedule begins January 19 with a special doubleheader, culminating with the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James visiting the Houston Rockets and reigning M.V.P. James Harden. NBA Countdown will air on ABC at 8 p.m. and lead into each game.

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC

Date Time (ET) Game Jan 19 3:30 p.m. * Oklahoma City Thunder at Philadelphia 76ers 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Jan 26 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics Feb 2 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors Feb 9 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets Feb 23 8:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors Mar 2 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers Mar 9 8:30 p.m. Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Mar 16 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder

*special NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC matinee broadcast

The NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC series returns on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3, with a special 2 p.m. start time. The Boston Celtics and Kyrie Irving will host the Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook. Generally, the NBA Sunday Showcase game airs at 3:30 p.m. with NBA Countdown tipping off coverage at 3 p.m.

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC

Date Time (ET) Game Feb 3 2 p.m.* Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics Feb 10 3:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers Mar 3 3:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Mar 10 3:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers Mar 17 3:30 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks Apr 7 3:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves

*special start time on Super Bowl Sunday

NBA on ABC highlights:

Six appearances each by the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers;

Potential NBA Finals preview: Golden State Warriors to visit the Boston Celtics on Saturday, January 26;

Rivalry renewed: Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James to host the Boston Celtics and Kyrie Irving on Saturday, March 9;

Possible Western Conference Finals preview: Golden State Warriors to host the Los Angeles Lakers twice: Christmas Day and Saturday, February 2, 2019;

Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid will host four NBA on ABC games this season: vs. Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers;

games this season: vs. Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers; Western Conference Finals rematch: Houston Rockets and James Harden to visit the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry on Saturday, February 23;

Five appearances each by the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers;

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves to make appearances.

ESPN will televise 84 regular-season games, including five opening week games, three Christmas Day games and 38 weeknight doubleheaders throughout the season. The schedule begins Wednesday, October 17, when the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis visit the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul. Opening week culminates with LeBron James’ home-opener with the Los Angeles Lakers as they host the Rockets on Saturday, October 20.

NBA on ESPN highlights:

14 appearances by the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James, 11 appearances by the Golden State Warriors and Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry lead the way;

LeBron James returns to Cleveland as the Lakers visit the Cavaliers; Golden State Warriors host the Oklahoma City Thunder in special Thanksgiving Eve doubleheader on Wednesday, November 21;

LeBron James plays his first home game with the Los Angeles Lakers as they host the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul on October 20;

10 appearances each by the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers;

Several teams with an increased number of appearances, including nine each for the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks and eight each for the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz;

Gordon Hayward will play against his former team, the Utah Jazz, for the first time as the Boston Celtics visit the Jazz on November 9;

New San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors’ career scoring leader, plays his first game back in Toronto against the Raptors, now led by Kawhi Leonard, on Friday, February 22;

DeMarcus Cousins plays his former team as the Golden State Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans on January 16;

Eastern Conference heavyweights collide: three Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors game telecasts.

NBA on ESPN schedule

Date Time (ET) Game Wed, Oct 17 8 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets 10:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns Fri, Oct 19 8 p.m. Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors 10:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz Sat, Oct 20 10:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers Wed, Oct 24 7 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks 9:30 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks Wed, Oct 31 8 p.m. Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks 10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns Fri, Nov 2 8 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Washington Wizards 10:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors Wed, Nov 7 8 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers 10:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Nov 9 9:30 p.m. Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz Wed, Nov 14 8 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Minnesota Timberwolves 10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Nov 16 7 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics 9:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks Wed, Nov 21 8 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors Fri, Nov 30 8 p.m. Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs 10:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers Wed, Dec 5 8 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors 10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Dec 7 7 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons 9:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks Wed, Dec 12 8 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans 10:30 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors Fri, Dec 14 7:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers 10 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets Fri, Dec 21 8 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics 10:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers Tue, Dec 25 12 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks 8 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors 10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz Wed, Jan 2 8 p.m. Minneapolis Timberwolves vs Boston Celtics 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Jan 4 8 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers Wed, Jan 9 8 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Houston Rockets 10:30 p.m. Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Jan 11 7:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks 10 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz Wed, Jan 16 8 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics 10:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors Fri, Jan 18 8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves 10:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers Wed, Jan 23 8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers 10:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz Fri, Jan 25 8 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Houston Rockets Sun, Jan 27 6 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Oklahoma City Thunder Wed, Jan 30 8 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards 10:30 p.m. Utah Jazz at Portland Trail Blazers Fri, Feb 1 7:30 p.m. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks 10 p.m. Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets Wed, Feb 6 8 p.m. Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks 10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors Fri, Feb 8 7 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Philadelphia 76ers 9:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Pelicans Wed, Feb 13 7 p.m. Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers 9:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves Fri, Feb 22 7 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Toronto Raptors 9:30 p.m. Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder Wed, Feb 27 8 p.m. Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs 10:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Mar 1 8 p.m. Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics 10:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers Wed, Mar 6 8 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls 10:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Fri, Mar 8 8 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets 10:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors Wed, Mar 13 7 p.m. Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat 9:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Sun, Mar 17 9 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets Mon, Mar 18 8 p.m. Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs 10:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Portland Trail Blazers Wed, Mar 20 7 p.m. Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers 9:30 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Oklahoma City Thunder Wed, Mar 27 8 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder 10:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz Fri, Apr 5 8 p.m. Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers 10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets Wed, Apr 10 8 p.m. Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets 10:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

Earlier this week, ESPN announced its NBA telecast schedules for Christmas Day and opening week. For more information, visit ESPN Media Zone. The matchups are listed below:

Christmas Day

Time (ET) Telecast Platform 11 a.m. NBA Countdown ESPN, ESPN App 12 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks ESPN, ESPN App 2:30 p.m. NBA Countdown ABC, ESPN App 3 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets ABC, ESPN App 5:30 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics ABC, ESPN App 8 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors ESPN, ABC, ESPN App 10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz ESPN, ESPN App

Opening week

Date Time (ET) Telecast Platform Wed, Oct 17 7 p.m. NBA Countdown ESPN, ESPN App 8 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets ESPN, ESPN App 10:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns ESPN, ESPN App Fri, Oct 19 7 p.m. NBA Countdown ESPN, ESPN App 8 p.m. Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors ESPN, ESPN App 10:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz ESPN, ESPN App Sat, Oct 20 10:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, ESPN App

In addition to its 101-game schedule and NBA Countdown, ESPN will continue to air its daily NBA studio show, The Jump, Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App. ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes will have extensive game coverage throughout the season. The schedules will be announced soon.

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