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NBA TV & Live Streaming Schedule

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Where to watch the 2026/27 NBA season on TV & streaming

NBA games are shown across several national networks, streaming services and local broadcasters during the 2026–27 season.

The schedule above shows the latest confirmed NBA games on TV and streaming in the United States. Listings are updated with start times, channels and streaming information as broadcast details are announced.

For most fans, NBA coverage falls into three categories:

  • National games are shown on ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video.
  • Local games are carried by a team’s local broadcaster or streaming service.
  • Out-of-market games are available through NBA League Pass, subject to blackout restrictions.

The exact channel or service changes from game to game, so check the schedule above before tipoff.

What channels show NBA games?

The NBA’s national television package is shared by Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon. The current agreements began with the 2025–26 season and run through 2035–36.

Here is how the national coverage is divided.

  • ABC and ESPN: ABC and ESPN show regular-season games, Christmas Day coverage and games throughout the NBA Playoffs. ABC remains the exclusive U.S. television home of the NBA Finals.
  • NBC and Peacock: NBC and Peacock carry regular-season games throughout the week, NBA All-Star coverage and games during the first two rounds of the playoffs. NBC and Prime Video rotate Conference Finals coverage during the current rights agreement.
  • Prime Video: Prime Video shows exclusive regular-season games, the NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, the NBA Play-In Tournament and playoff games. Prime Video is scheduled to carry one Conference Finals series during the 2026–27 postseason.
  • NBA TV: NBA TV provides year-round NBA coverage, including selected live games, studio programming, interviews and analysis.

Not every national game is available through the same subscription. Peacock and Prime Video have their own NBA packages, while access to ABC and ESPN depends on the viewer’s television or streaming setup.

Use the schedule above to see the broadcaster assigned to each upcoming game.

How to watch local NBA games

National broadcasts account for only part of the regular-season schedule. Most teams also have a local broadcast agreement covering games in their home market.

The local option can vary significantly between teams. Depending on where you live, games may be available through:

  • A regional sports network
  • A local broadcast station
  • A team-operated streaming package
  • A direct-to-consumer regional sports service
  • A cable, satellite or live TV streaming provider carrying the local network

Because these arrangements differ by team and ZIP code, there is no single regional network that works for every NBA fan.

The easiest way to find the correct local option is to select your team below and check its upcoming TV schedule.

Eastern Conference teams

Western Conference teams

Watching out-of-market games with NBA League Pass

NBA League Pass is designed mainly for fans who want to watch teams outside their local television market.

A League Pass subscription includes hundreds of live and on-demand out-of-market games. It also offers features such as home and away broadcast feeds, condensed games, game archives, multiview and access to NBA TV’s 24-hour stream. Available features can vary by subscription, location and device.

League Pass can be a useful choice when:

  • You support a team from outside its home market.
  • You want to follow several teams around the league.
  • You want access to full replays and condensed games.
  • You want to watch games that do not have a local or national blackout in your area.

League Pass is not a complete replacement for national and local coverage in the United States.

For a more detailed look at its plans and features, see our NBA League Pass guide.

 

How NBA League Pass blackouts work

NBA League Pass blackout restrictions are based on your location.

In the United States, the following games are generally unavailable live through League Pass:

  • Games involving the NBA team or teams considered local to your area
  • Nationally televised games
  • NBA Cup Semifinal and Championship games
  • NBA All-Star Weekend
  • NBA Playoff and NBA Finals games

A local game that is blacked out live normally becomes available on demand through League Pass three days after the broadcast. Nationally televised games normally become available on demand at 6 a.m. ET the following day.

Your local blackout area is not always determined by the closest arena. It is based on the broadcasting territory assigned to your location. The NBA provides a ZIP-code checker during the League Pass purchase process so viewers can see which teams are restricted in their area.

A blacked-out game should normally be available through the local broadcaster or the national network carrying it. Check the TV schedule above for the correct viewing option.

Can you watch NBA games without cable?

A traditional cable package is no longer the only way to watch NBA games, but no single streaming service is guaranteed to carry every game.

The best setup depends on what you want to watch.

  • To follow your local team: Start by finding the team’s local broadcaster and checking which providers carry it in your ZIP code.
  • To watch national games: Look for access to ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video.
  • To watch an out-of-market team: NBA League Pass will usually provide the broadest regular-season coverage, although blackouts still apply.
  • To watch the postseason: You will need access to the national broadcasters showing the Play-In Tournament, NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.

Some live TV streaming services carry ABC, ESPN, NBC and selected regional sports networks. Channel availability varies by service and location, however, and the national games shown exclusively on Peacock or Prime Video may require separate subscriptions.

Subscription prices and channel packages change regularly. Before purchasing a service, confirm that it carries the channels and local broadcaster you need.

For a side-by-side look at the main options, see our guide to the best streaming services for NBA games.

Can you watch NBA games for free?

Some NBA games may be available without a pay-TV subscription when they are broadcast on ABC or NBC.

Viewers who receive their local ABC or NBC station with a digital antenna may be able to watch those games over the air at no monthly cost. Reception and availability depend on your location.

Most games shown on ESPN, Peacock, Prime Video, NBA TV, League Pass or local subscription services require paid access.

Free trials and promotional offers occasionally become available, but they change frequently and should not be relied upon for an entire season. Always check the current terms and cancellation date before starting a trial.

The schedule above identifies the broadcaster for each game, making it easier to see when an over-the-air option is available.

Important dates for the 2026–27 NBA season

The complete regular-season schedule and national broadcast assignments will be added as they are confirmed. Important dates already announced include:

  • October 3, 2026: The NBA’s currently listed preseason schedule begins with the Raptors and Heat playing in Quebec City.
  • October 30, 2026: NBA Cup Group Play begins on Prime Video.
  • November 27, 2026: NBA Cup Group Play concludes.
  • December 4–5, 2026: NBA Cup Quarterfinals.
  • December 8–9, 2026: NBA Cup Semifinals.
  • December 11, 2026: NBA Cup Championship in Indianapolis.
  • February 11, 2027: NBA trade deadline.
  • February 19–21, 2027: NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.

The NBA may add or amend dates as the season approaches. Check the live schedule above for confirmed game times and broadcast information.

How the NBA season works

The NBA has 30 teams divided equally between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Each conference contains three divisions with five teams in each division.

Each team normally plays 82 regular-season games. NBA Cup Group Play games and most Knockout Round games also count toward the regular-season standings.

At the end of the regular season:

  • The top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the NBA Playoffs.
  • Teams finishing seventh through 10th enter the NBA Play-In Tournament.
  • The Play-In Tournament determines the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.
  • The NBA Playoffs consist of four best-of-seven rounds.
  • The Eastern and Western Conference champions meet in the NBA Finals.

The team with the better regular-season record generally holds home-court advantage in a playoff series, subject to the league’s applicable tiebreaking rules.

The NBA Cup

The NBA Cup is an in-season competition involving all 30 teams.

Teams begin in groups within their own conference before the leading teams advance to the Knockout Rounds. The Quarterfinals and Semifinals lead to the NBA Cup Championship.

For the 2026 competition, Group Play begins on October 30 and the Championship will be played on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Prime Video carries the Knockout Rounds, including the Championship.

The NBA Draft

The NBA Draft normally takes place in June after the NBA Finals. It gives teams the opportunity to select eligible college players and international prospects.

The order near the top of the Draft is influenced by the NBA Draft Lottery, while later selections are based primarily on the previous season’s results and trades between teams.

Detailed lottery rules can change, so this page does not attempt to reproduce the complete selection process. Once the date and television coverage for the next Draft are confirmed, they will be available in our NBA Draft TV and streaming guide.

NBA FAQs

What NBA games are on TV tonight?

Tonight’s NBA games can be found in the TV and streaming schedule above. Each listing includes the scheduled start time and the channel or streaming service carrying the game.

How many NBA games are on tonight?

The schedule above shows every NBA game currently listed for today. The number of games changes throughout the season, with larger schedules normally played on weekdays and fewer games on certain nationally focused nights.

What channel is showing the NBA?

National NBA games are shown on ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video. Selected games and additional league coverage are also available through NBA TV.

Most teams also have a separate local broadcaster. Check the schedule above for the exact channel assigned to each game.

Are NBA games available on Peacock?

Yes. Peacock carries live NBA games throughout the 2026–27 season as part of NBCUniversal’s national rights package. The schedule above identifies games available on Peacock.

Are NBA games available on Prime Video?

Yes. Prime Video carries exclusive regular-season games, the NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, the Play-In Tournament and selected NBA Playoff games.

Does NBA League Pass include local games?

Local games are generally blacked out live on League Pass when you are inside the team’s assigned television market. Viewers in the United States are also subject to blackouts for nationally televised games.

Use the NBA’s ZIP-code checker to confirm the teams restricted in your area.

Can I watch the NBA Playoffs on League Pass?

NBA Playoff and NBA Finals games are blacked out live on League Pass in the United States because they are carried by national broadcasters. They are normally added for on-demand viewing at 6 a.m. ET the following day.

Who won the 2026 NBA Finals?

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 in the 2026 NBA Finals. It was the Knicks’ first NBA championship since 1973.

How often is the NBA TV schedule updated?

The schedule is updated as new game times and broadcast assignments become available. Because channels can occasionally change during the season, check the listing again before the game begins.

Channels, subscriptions, prices and availability may change. Confirm the current terms with the relevant broadcaster or streaming service before purchasing a plan.