Despite lockout, NBA releases schedule

NEW YORK, July 19 (UPI) -- The National Basketball Association released its 2011-12 season schedule Tuesday despite lacking a new labor agreement with its players.

The league acknowledged the impasse, saying the schedule for its 66th season will be in effect "in the event that the NBA is able to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBPA [players association] in a timely fashion."

The first two games are to be played Nov. 1. Reigning champion Dallas will at home against Chicago, which won a league-high 62 games last season, while Oklahoma City will be on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The league locked out the players June 30 and there have been no negotiations since. The last time the two sides were unable to arrive at a deal was 1998-99 when the season was cut to 50 games.

The NBA All-Star Game is to take place Feb. 26 in Orlando and will be broadcast by TNT.

TNT will carry 52 regular-season games and ESPN will televise 75 regular-season games. ABC will start its national television schedule Christmas Day and also will carry the NBA Finals in June.