The complete NBA 2011-2012 schedule will be released at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday evening, but we already know that the Boston Celtics will be opening up the lockout-shortened season against the New York Knicks on Christmas Day.
Boston and the rest of the league will play 66 regular-season games this season, as the soon-to-end NBA Lockout forced David Stern and the league to cancel 16 games out of the regular 82-game season.
In addition to the Celtics facing the Knicks in New York City at noon on Christmas (TNT), the league has scheduled four other games to round out the holiday. The Miami Heat are at the Dallas Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. EDT (ABC), the Los Angeles Lakers host the Chicago Bulls (5 p.m.; ABC), the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Orlando Magic (8 p.m.; ESPN) and the Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m.; ESPN).
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