The wait is finally over for Filipino fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the NBA returns to Studio 23 with a back-to-back treat on Monday (Dec 26) for the league’s 2011-2012 season.

The face-off between last season’s championship contenders, the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, will be telecast via satellite at 8 a.m., with a same day primetime airing at 7 p.m.

Dallas, which reigned over Miami and won last year’s championship, has found further reinforcement in the players who recently joined the team. Lamar Odom joins the fold this season after leaving the Lakers, his team for seven years. NBA superstar Vince Carter has also joined the Mavericks to reunite with former New Jersey Nets partner Jason Kidd. Miami, meanwhile, has kept its power trio – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – intact.

As an appetizer to the championship match-up, the battle between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers will air live at 6 a.m., with a same day primetime telecast at 9:30 p.m. The Lakers are currently grappling with significant changes in their team after losing renowned coach Phil Jackson last season and veteran forward Lamar Odom in the off-season. The Bulls, meanwhile, has kept in its roster its Chicago-native star player Derrick Rose.

Next Saturday (Dec 31), the game will be between the Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers, which will air on Studio 23 live at 11:30 a.m. On New Year’s Day (Jan 1), the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Golden State Warriors on live at 10:00 a.m. The following day, January 2, the Lakers will return to play the Denver Nuggets live at 9:00 a.m. All games will have same day primetime airings at 9:30 pm on Studio 23.