Tkachuk to join Shaq, Barkley on NBA pregame show prior to Heat-Celtics

Matthew Tkachuk has been front and center during the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Florida Panthers. Now he'll be front and center for the NBA Playoffs.

Tkachuk, whose Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996 with a sweep against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, will join TNT for its pregame show in Miami prior to the Miami Heat hosting the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday.

The forward will join Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley in what is sure to be an entertaining interview. TNT's pregame coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Panthers, the lowest seed in the Eastern Conference, defeated the top-seeded Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round before taking out the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games and then sweeping the Hurricanes to advance to the Cup Final.

Like the Panthers, the Heat were the lowest seed in their conference but pulled off two series upsets, including over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. The Heat had a 3-0 lead, before dropping the past two games. They'll look to join their South Florida counterparts in the championship round with a win Saturday.

Tkachuk, a leading candidate for Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP, leads Florida with 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists), including four game-winners and three in overtime. His latest was a goal with less than five seconds left in regulation to give the Panthers a 4-3 win in Game 4 to advance to the Final.

Following a blockbuster trade from the Calgary Flames this offseason, Tkachuk had an NHL career-high 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) and was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

The Panthers and Heat have been supporting each other throughout the playoffs, with each wearing the other teams apparel in the postseason.