Why is Bulls vs. Nets the late game in ESPN’s doubleheader tonight?

Two of the best in the Eastern Conference will go head-to-head on Wednesday when the Nets visit the Bulls.

Powered by the duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the first-place Bulls will look to get another win over the Nets, who have enjoyed a season worthy of Kevin Durant’s MVP. The game will begin at 10:00 pm ET on ESPN.

Yes, you read that right, 10:00 pm ET.

What time does the Bulls vs Nets start?

• Date: Wednesday, January 12
• Hour: 10:00 pm Eastern Time

What channel is Bulls vs. Nets?

• Television channel: ESPN
• Live broadcast: Watch ESPN | sling television

Why is there a game between Eastern Conference opponents scheduled for 10:00 PM ET?

Despite the fact that both the Bulls and Nets are in the Eastern Conference, this game will be the second half of ESPN’s Wednesday night doubleheader, which will begin after the conclusion of a game between the Mavericks and the Knicks.

Because Chicago is in the central time zone, the game will have a local start at 9:00 p.m. As rare as it may be, a 9:00 p.m. advisory is not entirely uncommon for the nine NBA teams located in the central time zone.

In fact, on Friday, January 14, the Grizzlies will host the Mavericks on ESPN at 10:00 pm ET, which is a local forecast at 9:00 pm in Memphis. The first game of that doubleheader? A game between the Bulls and Warriors scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

Essentially, teams in the core time zone have local starts ranging from 7:00 PM ET to 10:00 PM ET, something that becomes more prevalent during the NBA Playoffs. This flexibility allows for greater variety on doubleheader, as evidenced by the fact that the Bulls have such varied schedules for home games in the same week.

It’s a minor inconvenience for Nets fans on the East Coast, as they’ll have to stay up a bit longer to see all the action.

The Sporting News will have you covered with updates on the Eastern Conference clash.

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