NBA: Important dates and complete nationally televised games per team for second half of the season
By Alex Mcewen
The NBA released its second-half schedule and the Los Angeles Lakers lead the league nationally televised contests, plus other important info.
Anytime the NBA releases a schedule, controversy typically follows. When the league unveiled the second half of the 2020-21 season things were no different. The bickering usually involves the amount of nationally televised games one team gets versus another and fans quickly took to social media to voice their pleasure or likewise displeasure in the announcement.
This time around, there was little need for argument. The Los Angeles Lakers were the outright leader in Nationally Televised games with a whopping 21, no other team crossed the 20 game plateau, in fact, the next closest squad was the Brooklyn Nets with 19 games spanning across NBA TV, ESPN, ABC, and TNT.
While the Lakers lead the way, ironically LeBron James‘ former team the Cleveland Cavaliers came in last with zero games set to air Nationally.
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Here is how the rest of the field made out:
NBA Second-Half National TV Games per team
- Atlanta Hawks: Six
- Boston Celtics: 16
- Charlotte Hornets: Four
- Chicago Bulls: Two
- Dallas Mavericks: 14
- Denver Nuggets: 13
- Detroit Pistons: One
- Golden State Warriors: 18
- Houston Rockets: One
- Indiana Pacers: Five
- LA Clippers: 17
- Memphis Grizzlies: Five
- Miami Heat: Five
- Milwaukee Bucks: 15
- Minnesota Timberwolves: One
- New Orleans Pelicans: Nine
- New York Knicks: 12
- Oklahoma City Thunder: One
- Orlando Magic: One
- Philadelphia 76ers: 13
- Phoenix Suns: Nine
- Portland Trailblazers: Nine
- Toronto Raptors: Four
- Sacramento Kings: Four
- San Antonio Spurs: Three
- Utah Jazz: 11
- Washington Wizards: Five
What stands out the most from the above list is the Knickerbockers with a stunning 12 national TV games, they are performing better than in years past, but 12 games really? Comparatively the current West-leading Utah Jazz will play only 11 national contests, something is not sitting right here.
Other important dates were also released along with the second-half schedule including the start of the inaugural NBA Play-In Tournament set to begin on May 18 and set to wrap up on May 21. This will could force the winners of the tournament to play a back-to-back entering the first-round as the NBA’s opening round of the playoffs is set to tip-off on May 22.
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Unlike in past years, NBA fans will not have to wait long for NBA action after the buzzer sounds on the 70th annual NBA All-Star game, as games will begin one three days later, and fans simply cannot wait for the action to resume!