:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1489729/GYI0062604417.jpg)
The NBA will announce its 2011/12 schedule Tuesday night at 7 Eastern in a special on NBA TV. As each team will play 66 games, the schedule promises to be different from the one the league unveiled before the lockout eliminated one-fifth of the season.
The Orlando Magic already know they're playing on Christmas Day for the fourth straight season, as they'll visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in the penultimate game that holiday. In addition, the Miami Heat will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day as well. The league made those announcements Friday. In addition, the Arizona Republic obtained the Phoenix Suns' schedule, which shows the Suns will visit Florida to take on the Heat on March 20 and the Magic on March 21. Neither the Magic nor the Heat will visit Phoenix this season.
According to the NBA's official website, the schedule will call for teams to play six conference teams four times each, with two games at home and two games away; four conference teams three times, with two gomes at home and one game away; and four conference teams three times, with one game at home and two games away. Teams will take on three non-conference foes twice each, with one game at home and one away; six non-conference teams once at home; and six conference teams once on the road.
For more Magic coverage, please visit Orlando Pinstriped Post, SB Nation's Magic blog. For more Heat coverage, head on over to Peninsula is Mightier, SB Nation's Heat blog.