NBA must-see TV includes Heat Big 3 and Celtics

The NBA announced its national television schedule to open the 2010 season along with select holiday games during an hourlong show on NBA TV Tuesday.

The Knicks, who open the 2010 season against Toronto on Oct. 27, also will play in one of five nationally televised games Christmas Day.

ESPN will televise three of those games starting at noon when the Bulls visit Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks, followed by an evening doubleheader featuring the Denver Nuggets at the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. and Portland vs. former Knick David Lee and the Golden State Warriors at 10:30 p.m.

ABC also will air a Christmas Day doubleheader, featuring the Orlando Magic hosting the Boston Celtics at 2:30 p.m. and the Heat at Los Angeles Lakers at 5 p.m.

Last year, the Knicks faced Miami in the season opener. But New York fans will have to wait until Dec. 17 to get an up-close look at LeBron James when he and the Heat's Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh visit the Garden for the first time. King James makes his second trip to New York Jan. 27

The Knicks will open at the Garden against Portland on Oct. 30.

The defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics welcome Miami in their season opener at 7:30 p.m. on TNT. In the 10:30 p.m. nightcap, the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers begin their quest for their third consecutive title when they host the Houston Rockets and All-Star center Yao Ming.

The NBA will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a full schedule of games on Jan. 17, including four nationally televised contests. On ESPN, the Bulls visit the home of the Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tenn., to square off with the Grizzlies at 1 p.m. NBA TV will showcase the Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks at 4 p.m. TNT will feature an evening doubleheader beginning with another matchup of the Eastern Conference finalists, Boston and Orlando, at 8 p.m., and the Thunder and the Lakers.

The remainder of the 2010-11 regular season schedule will be announced Tuesday.