ESPN Takes NBA Countdown, The Jump & SportsCenter to Chicago-Cleveland Showdown

By: Caryn Robbins Nov. 29, 2016

ESPN will take its NBA studio shows - NBA COUNTDOWN and The Jump - as well as SPORTSCENTER to the 'Windy City' on Friday, Dec. 2, for on-site coverage leading up to - and through - the Chicago Bulls and Dwyane Wade vs. Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James showdown at 8 p.m. ET, which airs on ESPN.

The Jump, ESPN's daily NBA show hosted by Rachel Nichols, will air at a special time - 3 p.m. ET - on ESPN2 from a set inside the United Center. Nichols will be joined by analyst Tracy McGrady and reporter Brian Windhorst for a one-hour edition of The Jump to discuss the evening's matchup and all things NBA.

NBA Countdown will take a rare regular-season road trip for pre-game and halftime shows at the United Center as well. Michelle Beadle will host her first NBA COUNTDOWN roadshow, alongside analysts Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups and McGrady. NBA COUNTDOWN is an hour-long show, starting 7 p.m., leading into the game.

At 8 p.m., Mike Breen, analyst Mark Jackson and reporter and Chicago native Cassidy Hubbarth will provide commentary for the Cleveland Cavaliers-Chicago Bulls game telecast. Additionally, ESPN3 will carry a live-stream of the Bulls' and Cavaliers' pre-game, on-court workouts and drills, beginning at 7:15 p.m., leading into the matchup.

SportsCenter will also be on site in Chicago throughout the day providing regular live updates, including post-game reports. Chicago natives and ESPN commentators Michael Wilbon, Sarah Spain and ESPN NBA reporters Nick Friedell, Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin will be appearing on SportsCenter.

In the nightcap of Friday's ESPN NBA doubleheader, the Houston Rockets and James Harden will visit the Denver Nuggets and Wilson Chandler at 10:30 p.m. with Ryan Ruocco and analyst Doug Collins calling the action. All ESPN NBA games, studio shows and SPORTSCENTER are available on WatchESPN and the ESPN app.