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[04/18/13 - 08:53 AM]
NBA Playoffs to Exclusively Tip Off on ABC & ESPN
Highlights include ABC's exclusive presentation of The Finals on ABC, starting June 6.
[via press release from ESPN]

NBA Playoffs to Exclusively Tip Off on ABC & ESPN

ESPN Radio Begins its 18th Season of NBA Postseason Coverage

ESPN, will.i.am Team Up to Deliver #thatPOWER for NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs will exclusively tip off Saturday, April 20, on ABC and ESPN with four Game 1 presentations. The action begins on ABC when the New York Knicks and NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony host the Boston Celtics and Paul Pierce at 3 p.m. ET. ABC will also broadcast Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs-Los Angeles Lakers series on Sunday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. The team of Mike Breen, analyst Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Heather Cox will provide commentary for both ABC games this weekend. KIA NBA Countdown with Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons and Michael Wilbon will precede both ABC games at 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

In addition, ESPN will televise a Game 1 tripleheader April 20: Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets at 5:30 p.m.; Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets at 8 p.m.; Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m.

The NBA Playoffs will exclusively begin and conclude on ESPN's family of networks, culminating with ABC's exclusive presentation of The Finals on ABC, starting June 6.

The NBA on ESPN Radio's 18TH season of live, national radio coverage of the NBA Playoffs will tip off this weekend when Marc Kestecher and Basketball Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay describe the action for the Knicks-Celtics game April 20 with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. On April 21, Kevin Calabro and Chris Mullin will call the Spurs-Lakers game, with coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ESPN Radio's postseason coverage includes exclusive national radio broadcasts of every game of the Conference Finals and The Finals.

ABC, ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes first round schedule

Date Time (ET) Game/Show Commentators Networks

Sat, Apr. 20

2:30 p.m. KIA NBA Countdown Magic Johnson, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, Michael Wilbon ABC

3 p.m. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (Gm. 1) ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Dr. Jack Ramsay ABC, ESPN Radio

5:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets (Gm. 1) Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Holly Rowe ESPN, WatchESPN

8 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (Gm. 1) Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Sam Ponder ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes

10:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Clippers (Gm. 1) Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Chris Broussard ESPN, WatchESPN

Sun, Apr. 21

3 p.m. KIA NBA Countdown Johnson, Rose, Simmons, Wilbon ABC

3:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (Gm. 1) ABC: Breen, Van Gundy, Cox ESPN Radio: Kevin Calabro, Chris Mullin ABC, ESPN Radio

Fri, Apr. 26

8 p.m. New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 3) TBD ESPN, WatchESPN

10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers (Gm. 3) TBD ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes

10:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (Gm. 3) TBD ESPN2

Sat, Apr. 27

7 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Gm. 3) TBD ESPN, WatchESPN

9:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (Gm. 3) ESPN: TBD ESPN Radio: TBD ESPN, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes

Sun, Apr. 28

1 p.m. New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 4) ABC: TBD ESPN Radio: TBD ABC, ESPN Radio

3:30 p.m. Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Gm. 4) ABC: TBD ABC, ESPN Deportes

Fri, May 3

TBD Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Gm. 6 )* TBD ESPN or ESPN2

TBD New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 6)* TBD ESPN or ESPN2

TBD Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (Gm. 6)*

TBD ESPN or ESPN2 TBD Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (Gm. 6)* TBD ESPN or ESPN2

*if necessary

ESPN and will.i.am Team up to Deliver #thatPOWER for the NBA Playoffs

ESPN and pop superstar will.i.am have teamed up to deliver #thatPOWER for the NBA Playoffs in a new telecast open starring the pop superstar and several of the biggest names in the NBA, including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. In the spot, set to the tune of will.i.am's new single #thatPOWER, NBA stars celebrate their strength and triumphs as they prepare for the NBA Playoffs. The new telecast open will debut Saturday, July 20, during ABC and ESPN's exclusive coverage of the NBA Playoffs' first day. For more details on the spot, visit ESPNFrontRow.com on Saturday.

Additional coverage

SportsCenter will provide extensive NBA postseason coverage, including on-site updates, game highlights and studio analysis from ESPN's deep roster of NBA commentators, including Flip Saunders, Bruce Bowen, Kurt Rambis, Tim Legler, Antonio Davis, Steve Javie and more.

ESPN.com announced its comprehensive coverage of the NBA Playoffs.





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