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During the NFL playoffs, NBC offers a reminder: The NBA is coming back to its platforms next season

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During the NFL playoffs, NBC offers a reminder: The NBA is coming back to its platforms next season
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During the NFL playoffs, NBC offers a reminder: The NBA is coming back to its platforms next season

2025-01-13 11:12 Last Updated At:11:24

NBC offered up a reminder of sorts during the NFL playoffs on Sunday night: The NBA is on its way back to its platforms next season.

NBC Sports debuted a promotional spot for its upcoming NBA coverage during halftime of the Washington-Tampa Bay wild-card game. The spot — featuring Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama and Boston's Jayson Tatum — is NBC's first with original content including NBA players since the league's new series of TV deals were announced last July.

“As the calendar turns to 2025, our strategy is to drive awareness and excitement for the NBA returning to NBC and debuting on Peacock this fall," said Jenny Storms, chief marketing officer of Entertainment and Sports for NBCUniversal. “It was so much fun to create this spot in partnership with the NBA as it winks at the nostalgia and legacy of NBC’s history, but also propels it forward by showcasing the stars of the game in an innovative and playful way.”

Next season marks the return of NBC to the NBA broadcast world. NBC carried NBA games from 1990 through 2002, and the new deal calls for it to showcase games on Sunday night once the NFL season has ended. It will air games on Tuesdays throughout the regular season while a Monday night package of games will be exclusively streamed on Peacock.

The spot unveiled Sunday stars actor Jack McBrayer — of “30 Rock” fame — leading a tour of the NBCUniversal back lot. The group of tourists includes Antetokounmpo, Wembanyama and Tatum, all in their team uniforms and asking McBrayer questions. Among them: Wembanyama asking if he can get on “America's Got Talent” and Tatum asking if the tour goes through any metal detectors — as he points to his Celtics championship ring.

“Ooh, shiny,” McBrayer said.

Antetokounmpo wasn't impressed. "I have one, too. I just don’t wear it everywhere,” he said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) makes a move to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) makes a move to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) drives in for a lay-up-attempt between New Orleans Pelicans' Dejounte Murray (5) and Trey Murphy III (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) drives in for a lay-up-attempt between New Orleans Pelicans' Dejounte Murray (5) and Trey Murphy III (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) reacts after dunking as San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) walks on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) reacts after dunking as San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) walks on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Kohli returns as India wins toss and bats in 2nd ODI against England

2025-02-09 16:06 Last Updated At:16:10

CUTTACK, India (AP) — Virat Kohli has returned from a knee injury as England won the toss and opted to bat against India in the second ODI at the Barabati Stadium on Sunday.

India won the first ODI in Nagpur by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The hosts had won the preceding T20 series 4-1.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy made his ODI debut for the hosts. He took 14 wickets in the recent five-game T20 series. The 33-year-old is India’s oldest debutant since their inaugural ODI team in 1974 (against England at Leeds).

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was rested for Chakravarthy’s inclusion.

Kohli returns to the playing eleven after recovering from a knock to his knee prior to the first ODI.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut in Nagpur, was left out.

England made three changes, with Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton all included.

Pacer Jofra Archer was rested, while all-rounder Jacob Bethell out with a hamstring issue.

The pitch here is a black soil wicket, and could exhibit variable bounce as the game progresses. Spin will likely come into play on the abrasive surface as the sun beats down. Short square boundaries could aid the batters for a high scoring game.

——

Line-ups:

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Shami.

England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

India's captain Rohit Sharma, right, shakes hand with his England counterpart Jos Buttler before the coin toss for the second one day international cricket match between India and England in Cuttack, India, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India's captain Rohit Sharma, right, shakes hand with his England counterpart Jos Buttler before the coin toss for the second one day international cricket match between India and England in Cuttack, India, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India's captain Rohit Sharma, left, flips the coins for toss as England's captain Jos Buttler watches before the start of the second one day international cricket match between India and England in Cuttack, India, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India's captain Rohit Sharma, left, flips the coins for toss as England's captain Jos Buttler watches before the start of the second one day international cricket match between India and England in Cuttack, India, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

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