The Sonics will play 14 nationally televised games, up from eight on the networks last season. Among those is a Christmas Day game in ESPN in Portland, showcasing the top two picks in this year's NBA draft - the Trail Blazers' Greg Oden and the Sonics' Kevin Durant.
The Sonics' 2007-2008 schedule was announced Thursday with Seattle opening on the road against the Denver Nuggets Oct. 31. That, coincidentally, is the same date Sonics owner Clay Bennett has set as a deadline for an agreement on a new arena for the team in the Seattle area. Otherwise, he has said he will begin the process of relocating the team out of state.
Seattle will open its home schedule at KeyArena Nov. 1 against the Phoenix Suns in a national telecast on TNT at 7:30 p.m.
Some of the better weekend home games include the first Oden vs. Durant KeyArena matchup Friday, Feb. 22, and the Miami Heat with Shaquille O'Neal Friday, Feb. 29.
The defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs visit KeyArena Sunday, Nov. 25, and again Tuesday, Jan. 29.
