Cavaliers to play Bulls in one prime-time national TV game

Cleveland, OH, United States (4E Sports) – The Cleveland Cavaliers will play one nationally televised prime-time game this season when they take on Derrick Rose and the rest of the Chicago Bulls December 5 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Last season, the Cavaliers had no game aired on national television as the market was still trying to acclimatize itself to the post-LeBron James era.

But things are getting interesting at Cleveland with the emergence of reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, who averaged 18.5 points and 5.4 assists as he led the Cavaliers to 21 wins in the lockout-shortened season.

Irving is expected to recover from a broken hand injury he sustained during practice in time to face Rose, considered one of the best point guards in the league.

The Cavaliers will also have three games aired on NBA TV, Nov. 18 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Nov. 18 against the Memphis Grizzlies and Feb. 23 against the Orlando Magic.

The Cavaliers will open the season at home Oct. 30 against Washington Wizards and after another home game against the Bulls Nov. 2, they will embark on their longest road trip where they will play six games in 11 days against the Bucks, Clippers, Warriors, Suns and Thunder before returning to Brooklyn to face the Nets.

The Cavaliers are home for all but four of their 12 games in February, including a seven-game homestand that stretches from a Feb. 2 encounter against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder to the first appearance of No. 1 pick, Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Hornets on Feb. 20.

LeBron James will return to Cleveland when the NBA defending champion Miami Heat take on the Cavaliers March 20. The Heat will also return for a second stint in Cleveland on April 15.

Former Cavs coach Mike Brown will return to Cleveland when the Los Angeles Lakers battle the Cavaliers on December 11.

High-flying Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and the rest of the Los Angeles Clippers will pay a visit March 1 before the Cavaliers take on Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and the New York Knicks on March 5. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rest of the Boston Celtics will play the Cavaliers on March 27.

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