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- 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;
- 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. | Washington Wizards at Miami Heat |
| 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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