Warriors-Cavs on Christmas slate as NBA reveals 2016-17 schedule
5:54 PM ET
An NBA Finals rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors is the centerpiece of the five-game Christmas Day slate as the league revealed its schedule for the 2016-17 season on Thursday.
It's the second consecutive year the teams will meet on Christmas. This time, however, the champion Cavaliers will host at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The second game of the ABC doubleheader is the Chicago Bulls visiting the San Antonio Spurs at 5 p.m.
The day will start off with the Boston Celtics playing in Madison Square Garden against the new-look New York Knicks at noon on ESPN. The Minnesota Timberwolves and their young core of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins will make their Christmas debut at Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. As has become tradition, the Los Angeles Lakers will play the LA Clippers in the late game.
LeBron James and the Cavs will host Stephen Curry and the Warriors as the teams will face each other on Christmas Day for the second consecutive season. Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports
The season will open on Oct. 25 as the Knicks will visit the Cavs on ring and banner night. It will be followed as West powers San Antonio and Golden State square off.
On the second night of the season, ESPN will televise No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons' first game as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Thunder. Then No. 2 Brandon Ingram will play his first game for the Lakers against the Houston Rockets in L.A.
Warriors-Cavs, Durant's return to OKC headline NBA on ESPN/ABC schedule
The 2016-17 NBA schedule has been unveiled! Here's a look at all the matchups we'll be bringing to you on ESPN and ABC.
Kevin Durant will make his return to Oklahoma City with the Warriors on Feb. 11 as part of ABC's Saturday Primetime. Dwyane Wade will make his only return to Miami with the Bulls early in the season (Nov. 10). The Knicks' Derrick Rose makes his return to Chicago on Nov. 4 in a game on ESPN.
The Warriors will host the Cavs on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 16) at 8 p.m. ET. That will be followed by the Thunder visiting the Clippers -- the first of 10 new Monday doubleheaders on TNT in addition to their traditional 20 Thursday doubleheaders.
As part of an NBA trend over the past several years, the league took steps to reduce the amount of back-to-back games for teams and four-game-in-five-day sets. Four-in-fives have been reduced by 26 percent from last season and no team will have more than one this season; the max per team last season was two.
Back-to-backs have been cut to 16.3 per team -- down from 17.8 last season and 19.3 two seasons ago. Back-to-backs per team now range between 14-18, down from 14-20 last season.
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NBA on ESPN/ABC '16-17 schedule
David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
5:56 PM ET
The 2016-17 NBA schedule has been revealed!
Here's a look at all the matchups we'll be bringing to you on ESPN and ABC for the upcoming season, including another thrilling Christmas Day slate as well as Kevin Durant's first game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
NBA on ESPN/ABC: 2016-17 schedule
GAME DATE DAY TIME (ET) NET.
Thunder at 76ers 10/26/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Lakers 10/26/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Raptors 10/28/16 Fri. 7:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Pelicans 10/28/16 Fri. 9:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Celtics 11/2/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Thunder at Clippers 11/2/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Knicks at Bulls 11/4/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Lakers 11/4/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Nets at Knicks 11/9/16 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Spurs 11/9/16 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Raptors 11/16/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Grizzlies at Clippers 11/16/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Celtics 11/18/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Clippers at Kings 11/18/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Spurs at Hornets 11/23/16 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Timberwolves at Pelicans 11/23/16 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Bulls 12/2/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Nuggets 12/2/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Knicks 12/7/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Clippers 12/7/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Rockets at Thunder 12/9/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Suns at Lakers 12/9/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Timberwolves at Bulls 12/13/16 Tue. 8:00 PM ESPN
Thunder at Trail Blazers 12/13/16 Tue. 10:30 PM ESPN
Pacers at Heat 12/14/16 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Celtics at Spurs 12/14/16 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Lakers at 76ers 12/16/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Jazz 12/16/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Celtics at Knicks 12/25/16 Sun. 12:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Cavaliers 12/25/16 Sun. 2:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Spurs 12/25/16 Sun. 5:00 PM ABC
Timberwolves at Thunder 12/25/16 Sun. 8:00 PM ESPN
Clippers at Lakers 12/25/16 Sun. 10:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Cavaliers 1/4/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Trail Blazers at Warriors 1/4/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Knicks at Bucks 1/6/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Grizzlies at Warriors 1/6/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Wizards at Celtics 1/11/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Trail Blazers 1/11/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Celtics at Hawks 1/13/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Pistons at Jazz 1/13/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Grizzlies 1/15/17 Sun. 9:00 PM ESPN
Hawks at Pistons 1/18/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Thunder at Warriors 1/18/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Rockets 1/20/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Pacers at Lakers 1/20/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Spurs at Cavaliers 1/21/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Warriors at Hornets 1/25/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Lakers at Trail Blazers 1/25/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Heat at Bulls 1/27/17 Fri. TBD ESPN
Clippers at Warriors 1/28/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Thunder at Cavaliers 1/29/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Timberwolves at Cavaliers 2/1/17 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Bulls at Thunder 2/1/17 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Lakers at Celtics 2/3/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Trail Blazers 2/3/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Knicks 2/4/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Clippers at Celtics 2/5/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Clippers at Knicks 2/8/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Bulls at Warriors 2/8/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Pacers at Wizards 2/10/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Bulls at Suns 2/10/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Thunder 2/11/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Spurs at Knicks 2/12/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Pacers at Cavaliers 2/15/17 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Knicks at Thunder 2/15/17 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Timberwolves 2/24/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Clippers 2/24/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Cavaliers 2/25/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Cavaliers at Celtics 3/1/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Clippers 3/1/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Heat at Magic 3/3/17 Fri. 7:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Pelicans 3/3/17 Fri. 9:30 PM ESPN
Clippers at Bulls 3/4/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Warriors at Knicks 3/5/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Thunder at Mavericks 3/5/17 Sun. TBD ESPN
Pistons at Pacers 3/8/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Celtics at Warriors 3/8/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Spurs 3/11/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Celtics 3/12/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Cavaliers at Rockets 3/12/17 Sun. 9:00 PM ESPN
Trail Blazers at Spurs 3/15/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Bucks at Clippers 3/15/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Clippers 3/18/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Raptors 3/21/17 Tue. 7:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Timberwolves 3/21/17 Tue. 9:30 PM ESPN
Hawks at Wizards 3/22/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Knicks at Jazz 3/22/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Thunder at Rockets 3/26/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Warriors at Spurs 3/29/17 Wed. TBD ESPN
Pacers at Raptors 3/31/17 Fri. 7:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Thunder 3/31/17 Fri. 9:30 PM ESPN
Celtics at Knicks 4/2/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Knicks 4/4/17 Tue. 8:00 PM ESPN
Trail Blazers at Jazz 4/4/17 Tue. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Celtics 4/5/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Clippers 4/5/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Clippers at Spurs 4/8/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Hawks at Pacers 4/12/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Pelicans at Trail Blazers 4/12/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
5:54 PM ET
-
Brian WindhorstESPN Senior Writer
An NBA Finals rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors is the centerpiece of the five-game Christmas Day slate as the league revealed its schedule for the 2016-17 season on Thursday.
It's the second consecutive year the teams will meet on Christmas. This time, however, the champion Cavaliers will host at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The second game of the ABC doubleheader is the Chicago Bulls visiting the San Antonio Spurs at 5 p.m.
The day will start off with the Boston Celtics playing in Madison Square Garden against the new-look New York Knicks at noon on ESPN. The Minnesota Timberwolves and their young core of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins will make their Christmas debut at Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. As has become tradition, the Los Angeles Lakers will play the LA Clippers in the late game.
LeBron James and the Cavs will host Stephen Curry and the Warriors as the teams will face each other on Christmas Day for the second consecutive season. Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports
The season will open on Oct. 25 as the Knicks will visit the Cavs on ring and banner night. It will be followed as West powers San Antonio and Golden State square off.
On the second night of the season, ESPN will televise No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons' first game as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Thunder. Then No. 2 Brandon Ingram will play his first game for the Lakers against the Houston Rockets in L.A.
Warriors-Cavs, Durant's return to OKC headline NBA on ESPN/ABC schedule
The 2016-17 NBA schedule has been unveiled! Here's a look at all the matchups we'll be bringing to you on ESPN and ABC.
LeBron to sign 3-year, $100M deal with Cavs
LeBron James will make $31M in the first year of his new deal with Cleveland, marking the first time he'll be the highest-paid player in the NBA.
Kevin Durant will make his return to Oklahoma City with the Warriors on Feb. 11 as part of ABC's Saturday Primetime. Dwyane Wade will make his only return to Miami with the Bulls early in the season (Nov. 10). The Knicks' Derrick Rose makes his return to Chicago on Nov. 4 in a game on ESPN.
The Warriors will host the Cavs on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 16) at 8 p.m. ET. That will be followed by the Thunder visiting the Clippers -- the first of 10 new Monday doubleheaders on TNT in addition to their traditional 20 Thursday doubleheaders.
As part of an NBA trend over the past several years, the league took steps to reduce the amount of back-to-back games for teams and four-game-in-five-day sets. Four-in-fives have been reduced by 26 percent from last season and no team will have more than one this season; the max per team last season was two.
Back-to-backs have been cut to 16.3 per team -- down from 17.8 last season and 19.3 two seasons ago. Back-to-backs per team now range between 14-18, down from 14-20 last season.
Sponsored Headlines
Comments
NBA on ESPN/ABC '16-17 schedule
David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
5:56 PM ET
- ESPN.com
The 2016-17 NBA schedule has been revealed!
Here's a look at all the matchups we'll be bringing to you on ESPN and ABC for the upcoming season, including another thrilling Christmas Day slate as well as Kevin Durant's first game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
NBA on ESPN/ABC: 2016-17 schedule
GAME DATE DAY TIME (ET) NET.
Thunder at 76ers 10/26/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Lakers 10/26/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Raptors 10/28/16 Fri. 7:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Pelicans 10/28/16 Fri. 9:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Celtics 11/2/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Thunder at Clippers 11/2/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Knicks at Bulls 11/4/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Lakers 11/4/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Nets at Knicks 11/9/16 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Spurs 11/9/16 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Raptors 11/16/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Grizzlies at Clippers 11/16/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Celtics 11/18/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Clippers at Kings 11/18/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Spurs at Hornets 11/23/16 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Timberwolves at Pelicans 11/23/16 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Bulls 12/2/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Nuggets 12/2/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Knicks 12/7/16 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Clippers 12/7/16 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Rockets at Thunder 12/9/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Suns at Lakers 12/9/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Timberwolves at Bulls 12/13/16 Tue. 8:00 PM ESPN
Thunder at Trail Blazers 12/13/16 Tue. 10:30 PM ESPN
Pacers at Heat 12/14/16 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Celtics at Spurs 12/14/16 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Lakers at 76ers 12/16/16 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Jazz 12/16/16 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Celtics at Knicks 12/25/16 Sun. 12:00 PM ESPN
Warriors at Cavaliers 12/25/16 Sun. 2:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Spurs 12/25/16 Sun. 5:00 PM ABC
Timberwolves at Thunder 12/25/16 Sun. 8:00 PM ESPN
Clippers at Lakers 12/25/16 Sun. 10:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Cavaliers 1/4/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Trail Blazers at Warriors 1/4/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Knicks at Bucks 1/6/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Grizzlies at Warriors 1/6/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Wizards at Celtics 1/11/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Trail Blazers 1/11/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Celtics at Hawks 1/13/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Pistons at Jazz 1/13/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Grizzlies 1/15/17 Sun. 9:00 PM ESPN
Hawks at Pistons 1/18/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Thunder at Warriors 1/18/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Rockets 1/20/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Pacers at Lakers 1/20/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Spurs at Cavaliers 1/21/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Warriors at Hornets 1/25/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Lakers at Trail Blazers 1/25/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Heat at Bulls 1/27/17 Fri. TBD ESPN
Clippers at Warriors 1/28/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Thunder at Cavaliers 1/29/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Timberwolves at Cavaliers 2/1/17 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Bulls at Thunder 2/1/17 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Lakers at Celtics 2/3/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Trail Blazers 2/3/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Knicks 2/4/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Clippers at Celtics 2/5/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Clippers at Knicks 2/8/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Bulls at Warriors 2/8/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Pacers at Wizards 2/10/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Bulls at Suns 2/10/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Thunder 2/11/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Spurs at Knicks 2/12/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Pacers at Cavaliers 2/15/17 Wed. 7:00 PM ESPN
Knicks at Thunder 2/15/17 Wed. 9:30 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Timberwolves 2/24/17 Fri. 8:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Clippers 2/24/17 Fri. 10:30 PM ESPN
Bulls at Cavaliers 2/25/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Cavaliers at Celtics 3/1/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Rockets at Clippers 3/1/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Heat at Magic 3/3/17 Fri. 7:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Pelicans 3/3/17 Fri. 9:30 PM ESPN
Clippers at Bulls 3/4/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Warriors at Knicks 3/5/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Thunder at Mavericks 3/5/17 Sun. TBD ESPN
Pistons at Pacers 3/8/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Celtics at Warriors 3/8/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Warriors at Spurs 3/11/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Celtics 3/12/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Cavaliers at Rockets 3/12/17 Sun. 9:00 PM ESPN
Trail Blazers at Spurs 3/15/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Bucks at Clippers 3/15/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Clippers 3/18/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Raptors 3/21/17 Tue. 7:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Timberwolves 3/21/17 Tue. 9:30 PM ESPN
Hawks at Wizards 3/22/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Knicks at Jazz 3/22/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Thunder at Rockets 3/26/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Warriors at Spurs 3/29/17 Wed. TBD ESPN
Pacers at Raptors 3/31/17 Fri. 7:00 PM ESPN
Spurs at Thunder 3/31/17 Fri. 9:30 PM ESPN
Celtics at Knicks 4/2/17 Sun. 3:30 PM ABC
Bulls at Knicks 4/4/17 Tue. 8:00 PM ESPN
Trail Blazers at Jazz 4/4/17 Tue. 10:30 PM ESPN
Cavaliers at Celtics 4/5/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Mavericks at Clippers 4/5/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
Clippers at Spurs 4/8/17 Sat. 8:30 PM ABC
Hawks at Pacers 4/12/17 Wed. 8:00 PM ESPN
Pelicans at Trail Blazers 4/12/17 Wed. 10:30 PM ESPN
