New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Basketball Association unveiled
its full 82-game regular-season schedule on Thursday night.
Opening Night is set for October 30, and it will be a spectacle as LeBron
James and the rest of the Miami Heat will see their championship banner raised
to the rafters. They begin their title defense by hosting the Boston Celtics,
who couldn't hold a 3-2 series edge in the Eastern semifinals against the
south Florida club.
The matchup after the Heat-Celtics showdown will feature two-time league MVP
Steve Nash in new digs, as the Los Angeles Lakers host Dirk Nowitzki and the
2011 NBA Champion Mavericks.
Christmas will feature five games from coast to coast.
The day will open at noon (et) with the Celtics visiting the Nets at their new
arena in Brooklyn. The Knicks and Lakers will follow before the day's marquee
matchup featuring a rematch of last year's NBA Finals -- the Oklahoma City
Thunder versus the Heat in Miami.
The Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls will precede the nightcap of the Denver
Clippers and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Sports Network