NBA Playoffs 2016: ABC & ESPN Combine to Televise First Five Games This Weekend
- NBA Playoffs: ABC & ESPN to Televise First Five Games This Weekend
- Breen, Van Gundy and Jackson to Call Game 1 of Rockets vs. Warriors – Rematch of 2015 Western Conference Finals
- Twelve All-Stars to Play During First Day of Playoffs
- Detroit Pistons Return to Playoffs for First Time Since 2009
- ESPN NBA Playoffs Preview Show on Friday, 9 p.m. ET
The NBA Playoffs 2016 tip off on ABC and ESPN this weekend with the first five games of the postseason airing on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17. Mike Breen, analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Lisa Salters will call Game 1 of the Houston Rockets (8) vs. Golden State Warriors (1) at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Warriors are fresh off their regular season finale – their 73rd victory, breaking the NBA-record for most wins in a season (previously held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls).
Breen and team will then fly to Cleveland to call the Detroit Pistons (8) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (1) matchup Sunday at 3 p.m. on ABC. The Pistons are making their first playoff appearance since 2009, while LeBron James and the Cavaliers look to get back to The Finals. ABC broadcasts are also available on ESPN3.
ESPN NBA Playoffs Tripleheader Saturday
In addition to ABC, ESPN will televise an NBA Playoffs-opening triple-header Saturday, April 16, beginning at 12:30 p.m. when the Indiana Pacers (7) visit the Toronto Raptors (2). Mark Jones, analyst Doris Burke and reporter Israel Gutierrez will provide commentary. A primetime doubleheader follows at 7 p.m. when the Atlanta Hawks (4) host the Boston Celtics (5) with Dave Pasch, analyst Jon Barry and reporter J.A. Adande. At 9:30 p.m., the Oklahoma City Thunder (3) hosts the Dallas Mavericks (6) with Mike Tirico, analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox. All ESPN telecasts are also available via WatchESPN.
Twelve NBA All-Stars will be playing on ABC and ESPN on the opening day of the playoffs: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, James Harden, Kyle Lowry, Paul George, Isaiah Thomas, Paul Millsap, Al Horford and DeMar DeRozan.
NBA Playoffs Preview Show and NBA Countdown
ESPN’s NBA Countdown crew – Sage Steele, Jalen Rose and Doug Collins – will host a special NBA Playoffs Preview show Friday, April 15, at 9 p.m., which will include a Chauncey Billups interview with Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.
Additionally, the NBA Countdown crew will pull triple-duty in studio this weekend – Saturday at 12 p.m. on ESPN, 3 p.m. on ABC, and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC leading into Pistons-Cavaliers Game 1.
NBA Playoffs early schedule on ABC & ESPN
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Commentators | Network(s) |
| Fri, Apr 15 | 9 p.m. | NBA Playoffs Preview Show | Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins, Chauncey Billups | ESPN |
| Sat, Apr 16 | 12 p.m. | NBA Countdown charged by Mountain Dew | Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins | ESPN |
| 12:30 p.m. | Game 1: Indiana Pacers (7) at Toronto Raptors (2) | Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Israel Gutierrez | ESPN | |
| 3 p.m. | NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless | Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins | ABC | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 1: Houston Rockets (8) at Golden State Warriors (1) | Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
Radio: Kevin Calabro, P.J. Carlesimo |
ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN3 | |
| 7 p.m. | Game 1: Boston Celtics (5) at Atlanta Hawks (4) | Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, J.A. Adande | ESPN | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 1: Dallas Mavericks (6) at Oklahoma City Thunder (3) | Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Heather Cox | ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Sun, Apr 17 | 2:30 p.m. | NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless | Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins | ABC |
| 3 p.m. | Game 1: Detroit Pistons (8) at Cleveland Cavaliers (1) | Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jon Barry |
ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN3 | |
| Fri, Apr 22 | 7 p.m. | Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers (1) at Detroit Pistons (8) | TBD | ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 8 p.m. | Game 3: Atlanta Hawks (4) at Boston Celtics (5) | TBD | ESPN2 | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 3: San Antonio (2) at Memphis Grizzlies (7) | TBD | ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Sat, Apr 23 | 8 p.m. | Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder (3) at Dallas Mavericks 6) | TBD | ESPN, ESPN Radio |
| 10:30 p.m. | Game 3: Los Angeles Clippers (4) at Portland Trail Blazers (5) | TBD | ESPN | |
| Sun, Apr 24 | 12:30 p.m. | NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless | Sage Steele, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins | ABC |
| 1 p.m. | Game 4: San Antonio Spurs (2) at Memphis Grizzlies (7) | TBD | ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 4: Golden State Warriors (1) at Houston Rockets (8) | TBD | ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN3 |
*To speak with ESPN NBA commentators, contact ESPN Communications (below).
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Media contacts:
Ben Cafardo at [email protected] (@Ben_ESPN);
Gianina Thompson at [email protected] (@Gianina_ESPN).
