ESPN's Mike Breen & Jeff Van Gundy to Call Two NBA Games on Christmas

NBA Christmas Day Quadruple Header Across ABC & ESPN; ESPN Radio Tips Off 17th Season

ESPN's lead NBA commentator team of play-by-play announcer Mike Breen and analyst Jeff Van Gundy are planning to call two Christmas Day games. They will begin in Dallas when the defending NBA Champion Mavericks and Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki host the Miami Heat and its All-Star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on Sunday, Dec. 25, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Lisa Salters will be the courtside reporter in Dallas.

Immediately following the game, Breen and Van Gundy will jet to the Bay Area for the head coaching debut of former colleague Mark Jackson with Golden State.  The Warriors will face the Los Angeles Clippers and All-Star Blake Griffin at 10:30 p.m.  Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, a Warriors legend and Jackson's teammate at St. John's and with the Indiana Pacers, will join Breen and Van Gundy courtside for the Warriors/Clippers game. Terry Gannon will be the courtside reporter.

Both games are part of an NBA Christmas Day quadruple header across ESPN and ABC.  Coverage will begin with the Kia NBA Countdown pregame show at 2 p.m. on ABC.  Following Heat/Mavs at 2:30 p.m., ABC will broadcast the Los Angeles Lakers and perennial MVP candidate Kobe Bryant hosting the Chicago Bulls and 2011 league MVP Derrick Rose at 5 p.m.  Mike Tirico, who will be in New Orleans the next day for Monday Night Football, will call the game with analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox.

ESPN's action will tip off with the Orlando Magic and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder and two-time league scoring leader Kevin Durant at 8 p.m.  Dave Pasch will provide commentary with analyst Doris Burke. ESPN's games will also be available via ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV and the Watch ESPN App.

ESPN Radio, entering its 17th season of NBA action, will broadcast two Christmas Day games - the Boston Celtics and its core four of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett visiting the New York Knicks and stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire with coverage beginning at 11 a.m., followed by Heat/Mavericks.