After a long and eventful summer, the NBA is back.
The New York Knicks are out to defend their first championship in more than half a century; the game’s preeminent elder statesman, LeBron James, has moved from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, where Jaylen Brown also joined the fold in search of an elusive title; and other contenders like the Celtics, Timberwolves, Heat and more reloaded in an effort to reach the mountaintop.
There has been plenty of discussion and analysis around all of the above, but the action finally moves to the court this week with games that count. All 30 teams will open their seasons across a three-day span that begins with a rare matinee start Tuesday and features seven nationally televised games.
Here’s the full rundown on everything you need to know as the 2026-27 campaign gets underway.
NBA games on TV today
Tuesday, Oct. 20
| Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Pistons vs. Celtics | 3 p.m. | NBC, Fubo, DIRECTV, Peacock |
| Knicks vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | NBC, Fubo, DIRECTV, Peacock |
| Spurs vs. Thunder | 9:30 p.m. | NBC, Fubo, DIRECTV, Peacock |
NBA season openers are spread across three days. See the schedule for upcoming days below.
Where to watch NBA season openers 2026-27
Three NBA season openers will air on NBC and four more on ESPN. The rest will be televised and streamed regionally in the competing teams’ markets.
With the demise of regional sports networks, most teams’ games that aren’t on a national channel will air on a hodgepodge of local TV outlets and team-run streaming services. Fans in a team’s broadcast territory can stream games with either Fubo or DAZN depending on the market. See the full schedule of season-opening games and streaming options below.
NBA season openers schedule
Wednesday, Oct. 21
| Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Wizards vs. Bucks | 7 p.m. | MNMT/DAZN (DC), WCGV/Bucks+ (MIL) |
| Magic vs. Hawks | 7 p.m. | WRDQ/DAZN (ORL), WANF/Fubo (ATL) |
| Heat vs. Timberwolves | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, DIRECTV, ESPN app |
| Nets vs. Hornets | 7:30 p.m. | YES/DAZN (NY), WSOC/DAZN (CLT) |
| Raptors vs. Bulls | 7:30 p.m. | Sportsnet (TOR), CHSN/Fubo (CHI) |
| Grizzlies vs. Jazz | 8 p.m. | DAZN (MEM), KJZZ/Fubo (SLC) |
| Pelicans vs. Pacers | 8 p.m. | GCSN/Fubo (NO), DAZN (IND) |
| Rockets vs. Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. | SCHN/Fubo (HOU), KFAA/Fubo (DAL) |
| Lakers vs. Warriors | 10 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, DIRECTV, ESPN app |
| Trail Blazers vs. Suns | 10 p.m. | Rip City Network/Fubo (POR), KTVK/Fubo (PHX) |
| Clippers vs. Kings | 10:30 p.m. | KTLA/Fubo (LA), NBCSCA/Fubo (SAC) |
Thursday, Oct. 22
| Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 76ers vs. Cavaliers | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, DIRECTV, ESPN app |
| Thunder vs. Nuggets | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, DIRECTV, ESPN app |
