STEVIE WONDER, WILL SMITH, ALANIS MORISSETTE AND KELLY CLARKSON TO HIGHLIGHT MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMANCES AT THE 2005 NBA FINALS

The Finals Tip Off on ABC on June 9 at 8:30 p.m., ET

Legendary performer Stevie Wonder, recording artist and Hollywood superstar Will Smith and multi-platinum selling artists Alanis Morissette and Kelly Clarkson will headline the pre-game performances at The NBA Finals. This is the first time all the musical performances for The Finals will be featured during pre-game activities. The Finals get underway THURSDAY, JUNE 9 on ABC with coverage of Game 1, beginning with Chevrolet NBA Game Time at 8:30 p.m., ET. All performances will be televised by ABC in the U.S. and also be seen in more than 205 countries. The Finals on ABC are available in HDTV.

Following is the lineup of pre-game performances for The Finals:

Game 1 - Thursday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. (ET)
Will Smith will tip off The Finals musical lineup prior to Game 1 on Thursday, June 9, as he performs his hit single, "Switch," from his recently released album "Lost and Found," and that will be followed by player introductions. Alanis Morissette, whose studio, acoustic song-for-song rendering of "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic Tour" is set for release June 13, six days after she launches the "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic Tour," will then sing the U.S. national anthem, her first televised performance of the anthem since becoming an American citizen earlier this year.

Game 2 - Sunday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m. (ET)
ABC's Game 2 coverage on Sunday, June 12 will feature Kelly Clarkson singing the U.S. national anthem via satellite from the Persian Gulf, where she is currently taking part in a USO tour with NBA Legends to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. and Coalition armed forces. Her performance will include appearances by Legends Artis Gilmore, Gail Goodrich, Spencer Haywood and Dan Roundfield.

Clarkson's second multi-platinum album, "Breakaway," is a Top-10 staple on the charts and features such No. 1 hits as "Breakaway," "Since U Been Gone" and her current single, "Behind These Hazel Eyes." She will launch "The Hazel Eyes Tour," sponsored by Schick Intuition, on July 6 in Lubbock, TX.

Game 3 - Tuesday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. (ET)
For Game 3 on Tuesday, June 14, Stevie Wonder will perform both the U.S. national anthem and his new single, "So What the Fuss," from his highly anticipated album, "A Time to Love."

The 59th Finals will tip off on THURSDAY, JUNE 9, beginning at 8:30 p.m., ET and will feature the San Antonio Spurs and (Detroit Pistons/Miami Heat) going head to head. ABC Sports is the exclusive home of The Finals.

Coverage will take place as follows:

GAME 1 Thursday, June 9
GAME 2 Sunday, June 12
GAME 3 Tuesday, June 14
GAME 4 Thursday, June 16
GAME 5* Sunday, June 19*
GAME 6* Tuesday, June 21*
GAME 7* Thursday, June 23*

(*If Necessary)