Opening Night on TNT to feature Kyrie Irving's first game against former team
TNT will officially tip off the 2017-18 NBA regular season Tuesday, Oct. 17, with an Opening Night doubleheader full of compelling storylines, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET. The night will begin with four-time NBA MVP LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers facing former teammate Kyrie Irving and the new look Boston Celtics at 8 p.m. In the nightcap, the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, with former Kia NBA MVP award recipients Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, will host the Houston Rockets with newcomer Chris Paul playing alongside James Harden, at 10:30 p.m. TNT’s coverage will include Golden State’s ring ceremony prior to the opening tip of the Warriors/Rockets game.
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will be on site in the Bay Area throughout Opening Night as part of the NBA on TNT American Express Road Show including live pre-game programming beginning at 7 p.m., the American Express Halftime Report and Inside the NBA presented by Kia post-game show.
Additional Notes
- This year will mark the 22nd straight season TNT has tipped off the NBA season with two games on opening night. Kevin Harlan will call the Celtics/Cavaliers telecast with analysts Reggie Miller and reporter Kristen Ledlow. Marv Albert will provide play-by-play for Rockets/Warriors with analyst Chris Webber and reporter David Aldridge.
- The network’s coverage of Autotrader Premiere Week will continue Thursday, Oct. 19, with a doubleheader featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder, with reigning Kia NBA MVP Russell Westbrook and new additions Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, hosting Anthony’s former team – the New York Knicks – and Kristaps Porzingis at 8 p.m. The second game of the doubleheader will feature the Los Angeles Lakers, in the anticipated debut of rookie Lonzo Ball, hosting the LA Clippers and Blake Griffin at 10:30 p.m. Harlan, Miller and Ledlow will call the Knicks/Thunder game, with Albert, Webber and Ros Gold-Onwude on Clippers/Lakers.
- In addition to Sports Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA coverage throughout Thursday night, Area 21 presented by MetroPCS with Kevin Garnett will go on the road for its season premiere, visiting Snoop Dogg at his Boss Lady Compound in Los Angeles and including guest appearances by Candace Parker and others. The multimedia franchise – which offers raw insight and commentary from Garnett and a series of featured guests over the course of the season – will have content featured throughout Thursday night’s doubleheader across TNT and the network’s social media channels.
- TNT Overtime on NBA.com and in the NBA App will deliver enhanced coverage with exclusive content and analysis from TNT commentators. The unique companion experience allows fans to watch the game via four alternate camera angles, including Advanced Performance Replays. Additionally, live streaming coverage of all NBA on TNT games is available via http://www.tntdrama.com/watchtnt and the Watch TNT app. Fans are able to access the games whenever and wherever they desire by logging in with the user name and password provided by their TV service provider.
