Times Square tipoff

Charles Barkley is coming to Times Square to tip off the NBA season. Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson will host live pregame, halftime and postgame shows from the New York landmark Oct. 28 when TNT airs a doubleheader on opening night. The first game will be Dallas at defending-champion San Antonio at 5 p.m. The nightcap is another Western Conference matchup, Houston at the Los Angeles Lakers, at 7:30. Two days later, TNT will televise a live pregame concert from Cleveland featuring a performance by Kendrick Lamar before LeBron James makes his regular-season home debut in his return to the Cavaliers. – Associated Press