Turner Sports’ NBA Digital announced the 2010-11 NBA TV regular season game telecast schedule. The schedule is highlighted by the return of Fan Night, where fans can vote on NBA.com for the games they want to see televised nationally on NBA TV every Tuesday night during the season. Along with live games multiple days each week, NBA TV will air the NBA’s first regular season games in Europe on March 4-5 at 3 p.m. (ET), when the Toronto Raptors face the New Jersey Nets at London’s O2 Arena.
The season tips off on NBA TV on Saturday, Oct. 30 when All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets visit seven-time All-Star Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET).
NBA TV’s Fan Night studio team of host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale will return this season. Fan Night voting will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 26, to select the first match-up of the season to air on Election Night on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
In addition, fans can also watch games on NBA Digital’s full suite of NBA LEAGUE PASS subscription products, including NBA LEAGUE PASS with up to 40 live NBA games on TV each week, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband for fans to watch games online and NBA LEAGUE PASS Mobile for on-the-go access on mobile devices. Products feature live and on demand out-of-market games, scores and stats. Early bird offers will be available prior to the start of the season on NBA.com.
Key match-ups on the NBA TV schedule this season include:
Opening Week: The network tips off the season on Saturday, Oct. 30, with the Nuggets @ Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET). Coverage will continue on Sunday, Oct. 31, with the Deron Williams-led Utah Jazz @ Oklahoma City Thunder (7 p.m. ET), which features reigning scoring champion Kevin Durant and emerging star Russell Westbrook. On Monday, Nov. 1, the Chicago Bulls, led by All-Star Derrick Rose and recently acquired Carlos Boozer, host the Portland Trail Blazers (8 p.m. ET) and Brandon Roy. The first Fan Night game will air on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Nov. 7 – The Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, led by All-Stars Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo — visit the Thunder (7 p.m. ET).
Dec. 18 – Southeast Division All-Star power trio Chris Bosh, reigning MVP LeBron James and Dwyane Wade travel from Miami to challenge John Wall, the top overall selection of the 2010 NBA Draft, and the Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET).
Jan. 8 – A matchup between 2011 NBA championship contenders featuring the Bulls vs. the Celtics (8 p.m. ET).
Jan. 17 – NBA TV will celebrate MLK Day when it presents the Sacramento Kings, led by 2009-10 T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, against the Atlanta Hawks, featuring All-Stars Al Horford and Joe Johnson (4 p.m. ET).
March 4-5 – NBA TV will air the NBA’s first regular season games in Europe at London’s O2 Arena with the Andrea Bargnani-led Toronto Raptors facing the New Jersey Nets, and their rising star Brook Lopez, making basketball history (3 p.m. ET).
March 19 – A match-up featuring the stars of the USA’s 2008 Olympics “Redeem Team” when Anthony, Billups and the Nuggets visit Bosh, James and Wade of the Miami Heat.
March 21 – Historic NBA rivals face off with the Celtics versus All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET).
April 10 – A rematch of the 2010 NBA Playoffs first round ensues with the Thunder @ Finals MVP Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion L.A. Lakers (6:30 p.m. ET).
NBA Digital is the NBA’s extensive cross-platform portfolio of digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports. This robust offering includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.
