NBA on TV in 2026-27: Which Network Has Which Night
It is 7:25. Tip-off is at 7:30. You have ESPN open, the game is not there, and now you are typing "what channel is the Knicks game on" with one thumb.
The NBA's national games are split across three companies and six places to watch. Here is which one has which night in 2026-27, so you can stop guessing.
Quick answer: Monday is Peacock. Tuesday is NBC and Peacock. Wednesday is ESPN. Thursday is Prime Video, starting in January. Friday is Prime Video. Saturday night is ABC and Sunday night is NBC, both starting in the new year.
Or skip the chart: add your team to Google Calendar or to your iPhone, and every national game shows up with its channel written on it. One team is free for 14 days, no card. Season Pass is $47 a year and covers every team you follow.
Who has which night
| Night | Where | From |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Peacock (also on NBCSN) | October 26, through April 5 |
| Tuesday | NBC and Peacock | Opening night, October 20 |
| Wednesday | ESPN | October 21 |
| Thursday | Prime Video | January |
| Friday | Prime Video. ESPN adds some Fridays from January. | October 23 |
| Saturday afternoon | Prime Video | February 6 |
| Saturday night | ABC | One game on December 12, then weekly from January 30 |
| Sunday afternoon | ABC | February 28 |
| Sunday night | NBC and Peacock | January 24 |
By the NBA's own count, NBC, Peacock and NBCSN carry 100 regular-season games, ABC and ESPN carry 80, and Prime Video carries 66.
Notice what the "From" column does to you. The answer to "what channel is Thursday's game on" is different in November and in January. That is the part a chart on your fridge cannot keep up with.
Opening week
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 20 | 3:00 PM | Celtics at Pistons | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue, Oct 20 | 7:00 PM | 76ers at Knicks | NBC, Peacock |
| Tue, Oct 20 | 9:30 PM | Thunder at Spurs | NBC, Peacock |
| Wed, Oct 21 | 7:30 PM | Timberwolves at Heat | ESPN |
| Wed, Oct 21 | 10:00 PM | Warriors at Lakers | ESPN |
| Thu, Oct 22 | 7:00 PM | Cavaliers at 76ers | ESPN |
| Thu, Oct 22 | 9:30 PM | Nuggets at Thunder | ESPN |
| Fri, Oct 23 | 7:00 PM | Knicks at Celtics | Prime Video |
| Fri, Oct 23 | 9:30 PM | Rockets at Spurs | Prime Video |
Yes, the first Thursday of the season is on ESPN, not Prime Video. See above about the chart on the fridge.
The dates that break the pattern
- NBA Cup, October 30 to December 11. Group games run on Fridays through November 27, plus Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25. Quarterfinals are December 4 and 5, semifinals December 8. The final is Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Prime Video has every knockout game.
- Christmas Day, Friday, December 25. Five games, all on ABC and ESPN: Spurs at Knicks (12:00 PM ET), Heat at Celtics (2:30 PM), 76ers at Lakers (5:00 PM), Thunder at Timberwolves (8:00 PM), Nuggets at Warriors (10:30 PM).
- All-Star Game, Sunday, February 21, 2027. Phoenix, on NBC and Peacock.
- Last day of the regular season, Sunday, April 11, 2027. All 30 teams play.
- Play-In Tournament, April 13 to 16, 2027. All six games on Prime Video.
In the playoffs, the Eastern Conference finals are on Prime Video and the Western Conference finals are on ESPN and ABC. The NBA Finals are on ABC.
What about the games that are not national?
Most of them are not. The Knicks, Lakers, 76ers and Spurs were given the most national games this season, 34 each by the counts reported when the schedule came out. A few teams got two.
A game that is not national is on your team's local channel. If you live outside your team's market, it is on NBA League Pass. National games are not shown live on League Pass, so you still need to know which night belongs to whom.
Put the channel on the game
- Open your team's page: Knicks, Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, Spurs, or find yours on the NBA page.
- Tap Try [your team] free for 14 days.
- Type your email and pick Apple, Google or Outlook. The email is where your backup link goes. No card.
- Tap the add button. Every game lands in your calendar with tip-off in your own timezone.
For a national game, the event names the network: ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video or NBA TV. We take that from a game-by-game TV listing, not from the night of the week, because a partner shows one or two games a night out of ten. Every other game says "Local/Regional Broadcast".
When a game moves to a different night or a different network, the event changes with it.
NBA TV schedule FAQ
What channel is the NBA on tonight?
It depends on the night. Monday is Peacock, Tuesday is NBC and Peacock, Wednesday is ESPN, Friday is Prime Video. Thursday is Prime Video from January. Saturday night is ABC from late January and Sunday night is NBC from January 24.
Is the NBA still on TNT?
No. The national partners are ESPN and ABC, NBC and Peacock, and Prime Video.
When does NBA opening night start in 2026?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with three games on NBC and Peacock: Celtics at Pistons at 3:00 PM ET, 76ers at Knicks at 7:00 PM ET, and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 PM ET.
Where are the NBA Christmas games in 2026?
All five are on ABC and ESPN on Friday, December 25, starting with Spurs at Knicks at 12:00 PM ET.
Where can I watch the NBA Play-In Tournament?
All six Play-In games, April 13 to 16, 2027, are on Prime Video.
One less thing to look up
You should not need a chart to watch your own team. Put the schedule in your calendar once, and the channel is on the event when you look at your day.
Pick your NBA team and try it free for 14 days
The trial is one team, no card. Season Pass is $47 a year and covers every team and league you follow, on the same calendar link.
Related: How many games in an MLS, NFL and NBA season? · What time is the game? Use your calendar