TNT moves their NBA doubleheaders to Tuesday nights during football season to avoid competition with Thursday Night Football, the NFL’s streaming showcase for the worst matchup of the week. Nonetheless, Americans prefer watching Russell Wilson struggling to score in double digits against the Indianapolis Colts over fan-tastic NBA action, so we don’t get Inside The NBA on Thursday nights until January.
But it’s a new year and a new night for Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq, and the NBA has given TNT some premium matchups. First, the surging Dallas Mavericks, winners of seven in a row, host the scuffling Boston Celtics (8-8 in the last month).