The 2026-27 season tips off Tuesday on NBC with Celtics at Pistons, Sixers at Knicks and Thunder at Spurs, then ESPN takes Wednesday and Thursday and Prime Video owns Friday. Use the tables below for ET and PT tip times, the national channel, and each team's local home when the game is not national. Local channels are from our hand-checked team pages; anything we could not confirm is marked unconfirmed.
This week has no Monday games. Opening night is Tuesday Oct 20. For the live grid tonight, see Tonight's games.
Which games are must-watch this week?
Opinion picks for the first week of the season. Channels and times are verified; the "why watch" notes are ours.
| Game | ET / PT | National TV | Why watch (opinion) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics @ Pistons | Tue 3pm / 12pm | NBC, Peacock | Opening tip of 2026-27, afternoon window |
| 76ers @ Knicks | Tue 7pm / 4pm | NBC, Peacock | Atlantic Division rematch at the Garden |
| Thunder @ Spurs | Tue 9:30pm / 6:30pm | NBC, Peacock | West heavyweights, Wembanyama at home |
| Warriors @ Lakers | Wed 10pm / 7pm | ESPN | Bay Area vs LA on the first ESPN night |
| Nuggets @ Thunder | Thu 9:30pm / 6:30pm | ESPN | Jokic visits the defending-contender Thunder |
| Knicks @ Celtics | Fri 7pm / 4pm | Prime Video | Reverse of Tuesday's New York-Boston flavor |
| Rockets @ Spurs | Fri 9:30pm / 6:30pm | Prime Video | Rising Rockets at Frost Bank Center |
| Warriors @ Suns | Sat 10pm / 7pm | NBA TV | Second Warriors road stop in four days |
Players to watch (opinion): Jayson Tatum and the Celtics on two national windows, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC's home and road national games, Victor Wembanyama on two Spurs national tips, and Stephen Curry on the ESPN and NBA TV West Coast slots.
Upset watch (opinion): Pistons hosting the Celtics in an afternoon opener is a noisy building; Spurs at home vs Houston on Friday is another spot where a young roster can steal a night.
How do I watch Tuesday's NBC opening tripleheader?
Tuesday Oct 20 is NBC's opening tripleheader. All three games stream on Peacock and air on NBC stations.
| Game | ET / PT | Where to watch | Local note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics @ Pistons | 3pm / 12pm | NBC, Peacock | National exclusive. Pistons' usual home is TV20 / DAZN (moved off FanDuel Sports Network). |
| 76ers @ Knicks | 7pm / 4pm | NBC, Peacock | National exclusive. Locals are NBCS Philly and MSG. |
| Thunder @ Spurs | 9:30pm / 6:30pm | NBC, Peacock | National exclusive. Thunder moved to Thunder+ / KSBI; Spurs stream locals on DAZN (unconfirmed: free-TV station for 22 promised games not named yet). |
What is on ESPN Wednesday and Thursday?
ESPN has the midweek national windows this opening week. Both nights replace local TV for the teams involved.
| Game | ET / PT | Where to watch | Local homes when not national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timberwolves @ Heat | Wed 7:30pm / 4:30pm | ESPN | Wolves: DAZN (moved). Heat: WPLG Local 10 free over the air (moved). |
| Warriors @ Lakers | Wed 10pm / 7pm | ESPN | Warriors: NBCS Bay Area. Lakers: Spectrum SportsNet. |
| Cavaliers @ 76ers | Thu 7pm / 4pm | ESPN | Cavs: Rock Entertainment Sports Network / DAZN (moved). Sixers: NBCS Philly. |
| Nuggets @ Thunder | Thu 9:30pm / 6:30pm | ESPN | Nuggets: Altitude. Thunder: Thunder+ / KSBI. |
Wednesday also has a full local slate (11 games total). Notable free or moved locals that night: Hawks at Magic (both free antenna after FanDuel), Bucks at Wizards (Bucks on My24 free), and Mavericks at Rockets (Mavs free on KFAA 29).
What is on Prime Video Friday?
Prime Video's first doubleheader of the season lands Friday Oct 23.
| Game | ET / PT | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Knicks @ Celtics | 7pm / 4pm | Prime Video |
| Rockets @ Spurs | 9:30pm / 6:30pm | Prime Video |
Prime membership covers these. They are national exclusives, so MSG, NBCS Boston, Space City Home Network and Spurs on DAZN do not carry them.
Friday is also the busiest local night (12 games). Clippers at Lakers is local only: Clippers on ClipperVision (moved off FanDuel Sports Network SoCal; select games on KTLA), Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet.
What about Saturday and Sunday?
NBA TV has three games this weekend. Remember: NBA TV is not exclusive, so local channels still air these tips.
| Game | ET / PT | National | Local still airs? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks @ 76ers | Sat 7:30pm / 4:30pm | NBA TV | Yes. Bucks: My24. Sixers: NBCS Philly. |
| Warriors @ Suns | Sat 10pm / 7pm | NBA TV | Yes. Warriors: NBCS Bay Area. Suns: Arizona's Family / 3TV. |
| Raptors @ Timberwolves | Sun 7pm / 4pm | NBA TV | Yes in Minnesota (DAZN / select free on KARE 11). Raptors have no US home market. |
Other Sunday locals worth a look: Lakers at Jazz (Jazz free on KJZZ 14), Magic at Knicks (MagicTV 27 free for Orlando fans), and Clippers at Thunder.
Which teams changed channels before this week?
Thirteen teams left FanDuel Sports Network after 2025-26. Several play national games this week, so their new homes matter for every other tip.
| Team | New local home | Free games? |
|---|---|---|
| Pistons | WMYD TV20 + DAZN | 71 games |
| Spurs | DAZN | 22 promised (station unconfirmed) |
| Thunder | Thunder Gameday Network / Thunder+ | 10 games on KSBI, KQCW and others |
| Heat | WPLG Local 10 | Every non-national game |
| Timberwolves | DAZN | 15 on KARE 11 |
| Cavaliers | Rock ESN + DAZN | 15 on WOIO 19 / WUAB 43 |
| Bucks | My24 + statewide diginets | 80 games |
| Hawks / Hornets / Magic | Free antenna first | Every non-national game |
Full detail, sources and streaming apps: Where Every Team Moved.
Will League Pass black out these games?
Yes, when you are in a team's home market and the game is on that team's local channel or on NBA TV.
National exclusives on NBC, Peacock, ESPN, ABC and Prime Video are not League Pass games. Watch them on the national service instead.
Use our blackout checker for a ZIP estimate. The NBA's own League Pass blackout guide is the final word.
What comes right after this week?
Peacock NBA Monday starts Monday Oct 26. Tuesday Oct 27 begins the regular NBC and Peacock doubleheader pattern. See Which night is whose for the full weekly national map, and the cheapest-way calculator if you are still picking services.
Standings stakes (opinion): it is week one, so every team is 0-0. Early national windows still shape the narrative for Boston, New York, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Denver before the pack separates.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is Celtics at Pistons on opening day?
NBC and Peacock, Tuesday Oct 20 at 3pm ET (12pm PT). It is the first tip of the 2026-27 season and replaces local TV.
Do I need Peacock for the NBC tripleheader?
Peacock streams all three NBC games on Tuesday. An antenna or cable NBC station also carries them over the air in most markets.
When does Peacock NBA Monday start?
Peacock NBA Monday starts Monday Oct 26, just after this week. The regular Tuesday NBC/Peacock doubleheaders begin Oct 27.
Are ESPN and Prime Video games on local TV too?
No. ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video games are national exclusives. They replace the home and away local channels for that tip.
Does NBA TV replace local channels?
No. NBA TV is not exclusive. Local channels still air the game in each team's market, and League Pass still blackouts those markets.
Which teams moved channels this season?
Thirteen teams left FanDuel Sports Network. Full tracker on our Moved page, including free antenna homes for the Hawks, Hornets, Heat, Bucks, Pistons and Magic.
Sources
- NBA.com schedule (checked Oct 19, 2026)
- ESPN NBA schedule for Oct 20, 2026
- CableTV.com: FanDuel Sports Network replacements (Oct 15, 2026)
- CableTV.com: How to watch local NBA games (Oct 12, 2026)
- NBA League Pass blackout guide
- How to Watch NBA: Where Every Team Moved
Schedule and national TV refreshed from ESPN on Invalid Date. Local channels hand-checked October 17, 2026. Spot an error? Email hello@howtowatchnba.com.