Schedule plan has 48 conference games
The NBA regular season would run through April 26 and require teams to play at least one set of back-to-back-to-back games if a new labor deal is ratified in time to start on Christmas.
Season's Greetings

Five months of rancor ended with the NBA and its players stumbling into a perfect start for the season, writes Michael Wilbon -- on Christmas Day, when many fans first start paying attention. Story
• Larry Coon: Comparing the deals
• Memo from Billy Hunter to players
The league posted an outline of what the schedule would look like on its Twitter pages Sunday. The plan is a 66-game regular season, ending about 10 days later than usual. The last possible day of the NBA Finals would be June 26, two weeks later than the championship series ended last season.
Teams would play 48 games within their conference and 18 outside their conference. Teams will not visit every NBA city.
Teams will play about two more games per month, but no team would play on three straight nights more than three times.
Back-to-backs might also be played during the second round of the postseason.
Meanwhile, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher than the All-Star Game will be held in Orlando, Fla., though the date of the game is uncertain. An announcement is expected this week, the sources said.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard says the owners won, but the players did OK in the new NBA deal. He also talks about future moves the Knicks can make and what the Christmas Day games will be.
Owners and union officials reached agreement to end the 149-day lockout on Saturday following a marathon bargaining session. Players must still approve the deal, and once they do, training camps and free agency will open simultaneously on Dec. 9.
With the lockout likely over, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other stars canceled their "Homecoming Tour" on Sunday.
The four-city tour was supposed to open in James' hometown of Akron, Ohio, on Dec. 1, but that game and three others have been scrapped now that the league and its players have a tentative labor agreement.
"We are thrilled that a tentative agreement has been reached and are looking forward to getting back to work and playing basketball," Wade said in a statement. "We all want to reconnect with our teams to make sure we hit the ground running when training camps are expected to open on December 9. Our commitment to helping children and the communities doesn't stop, and the daily work of our foundations to do just this will continue, as always."
When The Weather Outside Is Frightful
The NBA plans to start a 66-game schedule on Christmas Day after training camps open and free agency begins Dec. 9:
• Celtics at Knicks, noon ET (TNT)
• Heat at Mavs, 2:30 ET (ABC)
• Bulls at Lakers, 5 ET (ABC)
• Magic at Thunder, 8 ET (ESPN)
• Clippers at Warriors, 10:30 ET (ESPN)
James and Wade, along with good friends Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony had games scheduled in Akron, New Orleans, Chicago and East Rutherford, N.J. Proceeds from the tour were to benefit the four headlining players' charitable foundations. The four superstars still plan to hold a charity event on Tuesday in New York.
Organizers for the canceled tour said tickets will be fully refunded at the point of purchase.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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NBA Lockout: Sides Agree

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LATEST NEWS
- Sources: Free agency talks to open Monday
- Finishing touches remain for CBA
- Two games added for Christmas opener
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- Federal judge puts NBA hearing on hold
- Sources: Age limit still being hashed out
- Players, owners reach tentative agreement
- Players confident new deal will be passed
- Stein: Billy Hunter's memo to NBA players
- Sources: Players win some key concessions
- Windhorst: Late adjustments favor the Heat
- Source: Season to run from Dec. 25-April 26
- Hunter: Players get 51.2% of BRI in 2011-12
COLUMNS, REACTION
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- Ford/Hollinger: CBA's impact on all teams
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- Bryant: New deal doesn't solve old problem
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- TrueHoop: Winners and losers of new CBA
- Coon: What the new deal will look like
- 5-on-5: How does NBA's agreement sound?
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- coachthorpe david b. thorpe
It took 3 qtrs for SA to adjust to OKC's level of play compared to their previous opponents. How long will it take Boston?
2 minutes ago
- coachthorpe david b. thorpe

- johnhollinger John Hollinger
RT @dailythunder: James Harden didn't attempt a single free throw in Game 1. That's the first time this season that happened.
5 minutes ago
- johnhollinger John Hollinger

- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
When he wasn't begging for NASTY, Pop played Manu with Timmy & Tony more than any other game all season. Game 1 column: http://t.co/gbzKSbP3
about 4 hours ago
- ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein

- jadande J.A. Adande
We all know Manu Ginobili had a #podiumgame. But as I said earlier, Spurs like to send only 1 go to the room, and tonight it was Parker.
about 7 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- JustinVerrier Justin Verrier
@bomani_jones I hear ya. I fear I'm in for the same. On the plus side(?): I have developed a nice addiction to caffeine along the way.
about 7 hours ago
- JustinVerrier Justin Verrier

- JustinVerrier Justin Verrier
@bomani_jones I need more of that.
about 7 hours ago
- JustinVerrier Justin Verrier

- JustinVerrier Justin Verrier
At what point in life was I supposed to learn time-management skills?
about 7 hours ago
- JustinVerrier Justin Verrier

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Chuck: "Bradley Cooper nipped me for sexiest man alive. I still haven't gotten over that."
about 7 hours ago
- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Kenny Smith and Shaq both take Boston in 6.
about 7 hours ago
- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Russell Westbrook's wardrobe provided by Crayola.
about 8 hours ago
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- jadande J.A. Adande
Bi-weekly. Does that answer your question? RT @SoonerTrav22: @jadande I don't understand how u get paid
about 8 hours ago
- jadande J.A. Adande

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Barkley on CP3, Rondo & Parker: "He's been the best point guard in the NBA this year."
about 8 hours ago
- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Thunder and Spurs combine for 89 points off the bench.
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- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Gregg Popovich: "Guarding Kevin Durant is an impossible task basically."
about 8 hours ago
- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Line of the Night: Manu Ginobili 26 points (11 in 4th), 5 rebs, 3 asts, 9-14 FG, 3-5 3FG, 5-5 FT, W
about 8 hours ago
- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- DimeUpdate Dime Update
Manu Ginobili was unbelievable tonight. With 26 points including 3-3 in the last quarter and 11 points.
about 8 hours ago
- DimeUpdate Dime Update

- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
FINAL: Spurs 101 , Thunder 98. Spurs lead 1-0.
about 8 hours ago
- ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer

- DimeUpdate Dime Update
Also of note: The Spurs have won 30 of their last 32. GOOD GOD
about 8 hours ago
- DimeUpdate Dime Update

- johnhollinger John Hollinger
Update: Spurs now 44-4 in last 48 games Parker has played.
about 8 hours ago
- johnhollinger John Hollinger

- DimeUpdate Dime Update
And that will do it. The Spurs defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in game 1 101-98 for their 19th straight win. This series will be the best.
about 8 hours ago
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