NBA releases shortened, 66-game schedule

The NBA Tuesday released a lockout-shortened, 66-game schedule, starting with five match-ups on Christmas Day. Before its labor troubles disrupted the start of the season, the league had a slate of three games set for Dec. 25, but that has been expanded to five, starting at 12 p.m. with Boston and New York squaring off at Madison Square Garden. A rematch of last season's NBA Finals between Miami and Dallas follows, with Chicago taking on the Los Angeles Lakers next. The Christmas marathon will be capped with Oklahoma City hosting Orlando and the Golden State Warriors taking on the Los Angeles Clippers. The compact schedule will necessitate each team playing one series of games on three consecutive nights. The All-Star Game will be held Feb. 26 in Orlando, with the regular season concluding April 26. Should the NBA Finals go to seven games, they would conclude June 26.