ABC & ESPN 2015-16 NBA Schedule

· NBA Saturday Night on ABC Debuts Jan. 23: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James vs. Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose Tips Off New Blockbuster Franchise

· ABC, ESPN Combine to Televise All Five Christmas Day Games, Including NBA Finals Rematch - Defending NBA Champion Warriors vs. Cavaliers on ABC

· ESPN's Star-studded Opening Week to Include MVP Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Tim Duncan & Reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins in Action

ABC and ESPN will combine to televise 90 games during the 2015-16 NBA regular-season, all of which are either exclusive or full-national telecasts. Beginning January 23 at 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN on ABC will launch its new, prime-time franchise, NBA Saturday Night on ABC, with a blockbuster matchup - the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James vs. the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose. The eight-game NBA Saturday Night on ABC franchise will feature star-studded, marquee games with multiple appearances by the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. All games are also available on ESPN Deportes. More NBA on ABC highlights, including the full NBA Sunday Showcase schedule, are below.

NBA Saturday Night on ABC
Date Time (ET) Telecast Network(s)
Sat, Jan. 23 8:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Jan. 30 8:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Feb. 20 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Feb. 27 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Mar. 5 8:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Mar. 12 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Mar. 19 8:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sat, Apr. 9 8:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls ABC, ESPN Deportes

NBA Christmas Day on ABC, ESPN

The NBA on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, will air across ABC and ESPN. This year's five-game slate, featuring 13 hours of continuous coverage, is highlighted by the much-anticipated NBA Finals rematch - the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry host the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James - at 5 p.m. exclusively on ABC. The ABC doubleheader will start at 2:30 p.m. with the Oklahoma City Thunder - led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook - hosting the Chicago Bulls - led by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. NBA Countdown will precede the doubleheader on ABC at 2 p.m.

The Christmas Day schedule will begin on ESPN at 12 p.m. (noon) when the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade host the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis. ESPN will then televise a prime-time doubleheader featuring two rivalry contests. At 8 p.m., the Houston Rockets and James Harden will host the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan. At 10:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant square off with the cross-town rivals Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul. All Christmas Day games are also available on ESPN Deportes.

NBA on Christmas Day - 13 consecutive hours of coverage
Time (ET) Telecast Network(s)
12 p.m. (noon) New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
2 p.m. NBA Countdown ABC
2:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder ABC, ESPN Deportes
5 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors ABC, ESPN Deportes
8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
10:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

ESPN's star-studded season-opening coverage

ESPN tips off its 2015-16 NBA regular-season coverage with a star-studded opening week of marquee matchups, beginning with a doubleheader Wednesday, Oct. 28. First, the Oklahoma City Thunder - led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook - will host the San Antonio Spurs - led by Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge - at 8 p.m. The nightcap highlights the top two 2015 NBA Draft picks - the Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and D'Angelo Russell - at 10:30 p.m. NBA Countdown will precede the doubleheader at 7 p.m.

Coverage continues on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. when the Miami Heat visit the Cleveland Cavaliers as LeBron James faces his former team, led by Dwyane Wade, in Cleveland's home-opener. At 9:30 p.m., the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry visit the Houston Rockets and James Harden in a Western Conference Finals rematch.

NBA on ABC highlights

· Six appearances by the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James (16 total across ABC and ESPN);

· Five appearances each by the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and reigning 2014-15 Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry, the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose (against Cleveland on debut of NBA Saturday Night on ABC), and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant;

· Defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors run through the Western Conference gauntlet on NBA Saturday Night on ABC: at Los Angeles Clippers Feb. 20, at Oklahoma City Thunder Feb. 27 and at San Antonio Spurs Mar. 19;

· Multiple appearances each by the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan, the Houston Rockets and James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul;

· Eastern Conference showdown book-ends NBA Saturday Night on ABC schedule - Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James vs. Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, Sat, Jan. 23 and Sat, Apr. 9;

· Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant on NBA Sunday Showcase, Feb. 21;

· LeBron James reignites rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 30 edition of NBA Saturday Night on ABC.

NBA Sunday Showcase
Date Time (ET) Telecast Network(s)
Sun, Jan. 31 3:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Clippers ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sun, Feb. 7 2 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Heat ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sun, Feb. 21 3:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder ABC, ESPN Deportes
Sun, Mar. 6 3:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers ABC
Sun, Mar. 13 3:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers ABC
Sun, Apr. 3 3:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets ABC

NBA on ESPN highlights

· 10 appearances each by the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry, the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Houston Rockets and James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant;

· Nine appearances each by the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant and the San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge (including Wed, Oct. 28 - ESPN's opening night);

· Eight appearances each by the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis, and the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade;

· ESPN's first night of NBA coverage highlighted by top two 2015 NBA Draft picks head-to-head: Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns visit the Los Angeles Lakers and D'Angelo Russell;

· Los Angeles Clippers and DeAndre Jordan visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wed, Nov. 11;

· Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James host the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade Fri, Oct. 30, as James faces his former teammate Wade during ESPN's opening week of coverage;

· Special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day telecast, Mon, Jan. 18 - New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies;

· Several cross-town and intrastate rivalry games: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors on Wed, Nov. 4; Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks on Fri, Dec. 4; San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets on Christmas Day; Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day; Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs on Wed, Jan. 27; San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks on Fri, Feb. 5; Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks on Wed, Apr. 6;

· LeBron/Cavaliers vs. Kobe/Lakers on Wed, Feb. 10.

NBA on ESPN - (regular windows on Wednesdays & Fridays)

Date Time (ET) Telecast Network(s)

Wed, Oct. 28 8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Oct. 30 7 p.m. Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Nov. 4 8 p.m. New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Nov. 6 8 p.m. Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Sacramento Kings ESPN, WatchESPN

Wed, Nov. 11 8 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Nov. 18 8 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Nov. 20 8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Dec. 4 7 p.m. Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Dec. 9 7 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics ESPN, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Dec. 11 7 p.m. Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Dec. 16 8 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Clippers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Dec. 18 8 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Dec. 25 12 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Jan. 6 7 p.m. New York Knicks at Miami Heat ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Jan. 8 8 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Jan. 13 8 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Miami Heat at Los Angeles Clippers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Jan. 15 7 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Houston Rockets ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Mon, Jan. 18 2:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Jan. 20 8 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Chicago Bulls ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Jan. 22 8 p.m. Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Golden State Warriors ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Jan. 27 8 p.m. Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors ESPN, WatchESPN

Wed, Feb. 3 8 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Feb. 5 7 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks ESPN, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks ESPN, WatchESPN

Sat, Feb. 6 9 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors ESPN, WatchESPN

Wed, Feb. 10 8 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Feb. 19 8 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz ESPN, WatchESPN

Sun, Feb. 21 8 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Feb. 24 8 p.m. Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Feb. 26 8 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, WatchESPN

Wed, Mar. 2 8 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri, Mar. 4 8 p.m. Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Mar. 9 7 p.m. Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks ESPN, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder ESPN, WatchESPN

Mon, Mar. 14 8 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Mar. 16 7 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics ESPN, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets ESPN, WatchESPN

Wed, Mar. 23 8 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Fri, Apr. 1 8 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Wed, Apr. 6 7 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers ESPN, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks ESPN, WatchESPN

Wed, Apr. 13 8 p.m. Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, WatchESPN

In addition to the 90-game regular-season, ABC and ESPN will combine to televise up to 44 NBA Playoffs games, finishing with the exclusive presentation of the 2016 NBA Finals on ABC and including ESPN's exclusive Eastern Conference Finals coverage. In addition, the NBA Countdown pre-game show will generally preview ABC and ESPN games or doubleheaders 30 minutes prior to game time.

All ESPN games will also be available on WatchESPN. ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes will also have NBA game coverage throughout the season.

This will be the 14th consecutive season of the NBA on ESPN and ABC (since 2002-03 season). In October of 2014, the two entities announced a nine-year, multi-platform rights agreement, which goes into effect next season. It will secure that the longstanding relationship continues into 2025.