The NBA season is in full tilt, but as December comes to an end and the calendar flips into the new year, there will be a shortage of games televised nationally on TNT and ESPN — a pretty notable shortage at that.
Following a Christmas Day slate that saw five games simulcast on ABC and ESPN, the next nine nationally televised NBA games will air on NBA TV, with ESPN’s coverage resuming on Wednesday, Jan. 4. TNT’s next NBA broadcast will come a day later on Thursday, Jan. 5.
What’s the explanation for the long break? Despite a fair number of notable matchups in the coming days, there is a reason that there are no national TV games on TNT or ESPN.
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Why are there no national TV games on TNT or ESPN?
After a busy Christmas Day, there will be two Tuesdays devoid of NBA games on TNT. The ESPN family of networks will go without NBA basketball for one Wednesday and one Friday, which are the typical days for its NBA offerings throughout the season.
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Why are there no national TV games on TNT?
For TNT, the break ties in with the holidays. The network last aired a set of NBA games on Tuesday, Dec. 20, signing off with a reminder to fans that the “Inside the NBA” crew would “see y’all next year.”
Merry Christmas, America 🎄🎶 pic.twitter.com/BOZlNYLBlP
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 25, 2022
With Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays this year, the ensuing Tuesdays were scratched off as broadcast dates, as was Thursday, Dec. 29.
The “NBA on TNT” will return on Thursday, Jan. 5, with a doubleheader that features the Celtics and Mavericks followed by the Clippers and Nuggets.
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Why are there no national TV games on ESPN?
ESPN had a full NBA slate on Christmas Day, but the company’s commitment to air college football’s bowl season will temporarily slow down pro basketball coverage.
The ESPN family of networks typically airs NBA games on Wednesdays and Fridays in addition to select marquee matchups on Saturdays and Sundays.
On Wednesday, Dec. 28, ESPN will air the Liberty Bowl at 5:30 p.m. ET followed by the Texas Bowl at 9 p.m. ET. On Friday, Dec. 30, ESPN will be full tilt in its coverage of the Orange Bowl, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET. On Saturday, Dec. 31, ESPN will be covering each Semifinal matchup of the College Football Playoff.
As bowl season dies down, ESPN will resume its coverage of NBA basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 4 when the Bucks visit the Raptors, followed by a game between the Heat and Lakers.
NBA TV schedule 2022-23
Here is the upcoming schedule of games that will air nationally on NBA TV. Local blackout restrictions apply.
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| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Tuesday, Dec. 27 | Knicks vs. Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 28 | Lakers vs. Heat | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 28 | Nuggets vs. Kings | 10 p.m. |
| Thursday, Dec. 29 | Clippers vs. Celtics | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 30 | Lakers vs. Hawks | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 30 | Trail Blazers vs. Warriors | 10 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Jan. 3 | Wizards vs. Bucks | 8 p.m. |
