The 2026-27 NBA season runs from October 20, 2026 until April 11, 2027, and the season will kick off with an impressive triple-header on NBC and Peacock; you’ll be able to catch the Celtics vs. Pistons (3 p.m. ET), the 76ers vs. Knicks (7 p.m.) and the Thunder vs. Spurs (9:30 p.m.) that day. All 30 teams in the league will play this week, and games this season will be broadcast across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, NBC, NBCSN, Prime Video, Peacock and NBA League Pass.
Many NBA games will also air locally on RSNs and, for the first time this year, fans of several teams, including the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs can watch locally-broadcast games on DAZN which has become these teams’ exclusive local media rights partner for the 2026-2027 season. (More information on how to subscribe to your team’s live game hub can be found here.)
Here’s a look at the Week 1 schedule for the NBA, and find out where you can tune in to games nationally and on a local level.
Where to watch the 2026-27 NBA season
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Dates: Oct. 20, 2026 – April 11, 2027
Channels: ESPN, ABC, NBC, NBCSN
Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Prime Video, Peacock, DAZN, YouTube TV, NBA League Pass and more
When does the 2026 NBA season start?
The 2026 NBA season begins on Tuesday, October 20 with a triple-header on NBC and Peacock.
What channels will air NBA season games?
You’ll be able to watch nationally televised NBA games this season on ESPN, ABC NBC, and NBCSN.
Where to watch NBA preseason games without cable:
NBA games on ESPN and ABC will also stream on ESPN Unlimited, usually on Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays during the season. Games on NBC and NBCSN will stream on Peacock on Mondays and Tuesdays, and NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball will return for seven weeks starting in January. You can also watch these channels on live TV platforms like YouTube TV and DirecTV .
This season, Prime Video will broadcast Friday night games, with doubleheaders on most Fridays; beginning in January, Prime Video will also stream Thursday night doubleheaders and select Saturday games. You’ll also be able to watch the entire SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament during the playoffs on Prime.
This year, local games will also be available to stream via DAZN in select markets: learn how to sign up for their plan so you won’t miss your team’s games. Select out of market games will also stream on NBA League Pass.
NBA Opening Week Schedule:
All times Eastern
October 20
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3 p.m.: Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (NBC/Peacock)
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7 p.m.: Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (NBC/Peacock)
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9:30: OKC Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs (NBC/Peacock)
October 21
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7 p.m.: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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7 p.m.: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards (NBA League Pass)
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7:30 p.m.: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat (ESPN)
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7:30 p.m.: Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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7:30 p.m.: Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors (NBA League Pass)
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8 p.m.: Utaz Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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8 p.m.: Indiana Pacers vs. New Orleans Pelicans (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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8:30 p.m.: Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets (NBA League Pass)
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10 p.m.: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN)
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10 p.m.: Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers (NBA League Pass)
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10:30 p.m.: Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers (NBA League Pass)
October 22
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7 pm. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN)
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9:30 p.m.: Denver Nuggets vs. OKC Thunder (ESPN)
October 23
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7 p.m.: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics (Prime Video)
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7 p.m.: Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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7 p.m.: Dallas Mavericks vs. Indiana Pacers (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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7 p.m.: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Orlando Magic (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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7 p.m.: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards (NBA League Pass)
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8 p.m.: Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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8 p.m.: Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks (NBA League Pass)
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9:30 p.m.: Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs (Prime Video)
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9:30 p.m.: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors (NBA League Pass/DAZN)
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10 p.m.: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA League Pass)
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10 p.m.: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings (NBA League Pass)
NBA 2026-27 season key dates:
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Oct. 20: Start of NBA regular season
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Dec. 11: Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Championship | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
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Dec. 25: NBA on Christmas Day
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Jan. 26-30: AWS NBA Rivals Week
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Feb. 11: NBA Trade Deadline
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Feb. 19-21: NBA All-Star 2027 | Phoenix, AZ
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Feb. 19-24: NBA All-Star break
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March 1: Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline
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April 11: 2026-27 Regular Season ends (All 30 teams play)
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April 12: Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2027 (3 p.m. ET)
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April 13-16: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
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April 17: NBA Playoffs 2026 begin