2005 NBA PLAYOFFS AND FINALS ON ABC SPORTS

ABC Sports is the Exclusive Home of the Finals, Beginning June 9

NBA Playoffs Begin on ABC Sports this Weekend with Games Involving The Defending NBA Champion Detroit Pistons and Shaq & the Miami Heat

Up to 17 NBA Playoff Games, Including Games 4 and 7 of the Western Conference Finals

ABC Sports will present live coverage of the 2005 NBA Playoffs, including exclusive coverage of the Finals. In addition to the Finals, ABC Sports will broadcast up to 10 Playoff games. Coverage will begin this weekend with two opening-round playoff games -- including the opening game of the NBA Playoffs, as the defending champion Detroit Pistons host the No. 7 seed (TBD), SATURDAY, APRIL 23, at 3:00 p.m., ET, and the Eastern Conference's No.-1 Seed Miami Heat, with Shaquille O'Neal, hosting the No. 8 seed (TBD) on SUNDAY APRIL 24, at 3:00 p.m., ET. Exclusive coverage of the Finals begins THURSDAY, JUNE 9, with coverage starting at 8:30 p.m., ET.

The broadcast team of Al Michaels, Hubie Brown and Michele Tafoya will call The Finals, as well as most of the ABC playoff games. An additional broadcast crew, still to be determined, will work select games when necessary. The host of ABC's pre-game and halftime studio coverage is Mike Tirico, who is joined by Bill Walton, Steve "Snapper" Jones and Ahmad Rashad. Toronto Raptors swingman Jalen Rose will join the crew on April 23 and 24 in the studio.

2005 ABC SPORTS NBA PLAYOFFS/FINALS SCHEDULE:
(All times E.T.; all Playoff games preceded by GMC NBA Game Time; schedule subject to change)

NBA PLAYOFFS ON ABC
**Sat., April 23 3:00 p.m. No. 7 seed vs. Detroit Pistons; First Round - Game 1
**Sun., April 24 3:00 p.m. No. 8 seed vs. Miami Heat; First Round - Game 1
Sun., May 1 3:00 p.m. First Round - Game 4
Sun., May 8 3:00 p.m. First Round - Game 7* or Conference Semifinals - Game 1
Sat., May 14 8:00 p.m. Conference Semifinals - Game 3
Sun., May 15 3:00 p.m. Conference Semifinals - Game 4
Thurs., May 19 8:00 p.m. Conference Semifinals - Game 6*
Sun., May 22 3:00 p.m. Conference Semifinals - Game 7* or Conf. Finals - Game 1
Mon., May 30 8:00 p.m. Western Conference Finals - Game 4 or 5*
Sun., June 5 8:00 p.m. Western Conference Finals - Game 7*

THE FINALS ON ABC (all Finals games preceded by Chevrolet NBA Game Time)
Thurs., June 9 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 1
Sun., June 12 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 2
Tues., June 14 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 3
Thurs., June 16 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 4
Sun., June 19 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 5*
Tues., June 21 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 6*
Thurs., June 23 8:30 p.m. NBA Finals - Game 7*

(**No GMC NBA Game Time)

(*If necessary)

All game of the Finals and select playoff games are available in HDTV.