How to Watch 76ers vs. Knicks on Opening Night on DIRECTV: Tip-Off Time, NBC Channel and Peacock
The 2026-27 NBA season's biggest night runs through Madison Square Garden. The Philadelphia 76ers visit the New York Knicks on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET, and the game airs nationally on NBC and Peacock. On DIRECTV, you'll find it on your local NBC station.
The champion Knicks raise their first title banner since 1973 before tip-off, and LeBron James plays his first regular-season game for Philadelphia. It's the middle game of NBC's opening-night tripleheader. Here's how to watch on DIRECTV, how Peacock fits in and what to know before the ball goes up.
76ers vs. Knicks: quick facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7 p.m. ET (NBC's pregame show starts at 6:30 p.m. ET) |
| National TV | NBC (your local NBC station on DIRECTV) |
| Streaming | Peacock (separate subscription) |
| Arena | Madison Square Garden, New York |
| Radio | ESPN Radio and SiriusXM |
| Game type | Regular-season opener for both teams; the Knicks' banner night |
What channel is 76ers vs. Knicks on DIRECTV?
The game is on NBC, so tune to your local NBC station. NBC doesn't have one national channel number on DIRECTV. It comes through the NBC station in your market, such as WNBC in New York or WCAU in Philadelphia, and the channel number depends on where you live. DIRECTV includes local channels with its packages wherever they're available, so ENTERTAINMENT and higher plans get this game.
To find it, press Guide and look for your NBC station's call letters, or search "Knicks" or "76ers" to see every upcoming airing. Not sure your address gets local channels? Call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check.
This is a national NBC game. The NBA's game listing shows NBC and Peacock as the only TV outlets, with no local broadcast on MSG or NBC Sports Philadelphia, so NBC is the place to watch in both cities.
Is 76ers vs. Knicks on Peacock?
Yes. Peacock streams the game live, but it's a separate app with its own subscription. It isn't a DIRECTV channel. If you have a DIRECTV Gemini device, you can open the Peacock app there. You don't need Peacock to watch, though. NBC's broadcast on your local station is the same game.
How to stream 76ers vs. Knicks
- DIRECTV app: where your local NBC station is available in the app, you can watch on your phone, tablet or streaming device.
- DIRECTV streaming: includes your local NBC station where local channels are available, including with the MySports Genre Pack.
- Peacock: streams every NBC game with a Peacock subscription.
- NBA League Pass: national TV games aren't available live on League Pass, so it won't stream there.
76ers vs. Knicks channels on DIRECTV
| Network | DIRECTV channel | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| NBC | Your local NBC station | Packages with local channels, where available |
| Peacock | App on Gemini devices (not a channel) | Separate Peacock subscription |
What to know before tip-off
- Banner night at the Garden: the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the 2026 NBA title, their first championship in 53 years, and Jalen Brunson was Finals MVP. The banner goes up before the game.
- LeBron James' 76ers debut: James signed with Philadelphia as a free agent this summer, and he starts a record 24th NBA season. He, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey sat out the preseason opener as healthy inactives, and coach Nick Nurse said he hopes to play most of his regulars together in two of the last three preseason games.
- Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia blue: the 76ers added Brown in a July trade with Boston. He scored 22 points in Philadelphia's 120-97 preseason win over the Knicks on October 5.
- A playoff rematch: the Knicks swept the 76ers in the second round last spring on their way to the title. Philadelphia went 45-37 in the regular season.
- Check availability on game day: both teams post injury reports before tip-off, so confirm who's playing that afternoon.
The rest of opening night
All three opening-night games are on NBC and Peacock, so one local channel covers the whole tripleheader:
| Tip-off (ET) | Game | Arena | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Celtics at Pistons | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit | NBC and Peacock |
| 7 p.m. | 76ers at Knicks | Madison Square Garden, New York | NBC and Peacock |
| 9:30 p.m. | Thunder at Spurs | Frost Bank Center, San Antonio | NBC and Peacock |
76ers and Knicks on national TV: the next few weeks
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 8 | Wizards at Knicks (preseason) | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | 76ers at Celtics (preseason) | 8 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Mon., Oct. 12 | Timberwolves at Knicks (preseason) | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Fri., Oct. 16 | Celtics at 76ers (preseason) | 7 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Thu., Oct. 22 | Cavaliers at 76ers | 7 p.m. | ESPN (206) |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Knicks at Celtics | 7 p.m. | Prime Video (app) |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Bucks at 76ers | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Tue., Oct. 27 | Pistons at Knicks | 8 p.m. | NBC and Peacock |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Knicks at 76ers | 7:30 p.m. | Prime Video (app) |
Prime Video games stream only in the Prime Video app, which needs its own Amazon subscription and is available on Gemini devices. Team-by-team local channels, League Pass details and the full national schedule are in our guide to watching the NBA on DIRECTV. For the remaining exhibition games, see our 2026 NBA preseason guide.
Which DIRECTV package is best for 76ers and Knicks fans?
- ENTERTAINMENT: covers opening night on your local NBC station, plus ESPN (206) and ESPN2 (209) for national games.
- CHOICE: adds NBA TV (216) and regional sports networks where available, like MSG for the Knicks and NBC Sports Philadelphia for the 76ers. For most fans of either team, this is the package to start with.
- MySports Genre Pack: a sports-focused streaming option with ESPN, NBA TV and local channels where available.
Want your local NBC station, NBA TV and your team's channel on one plan before October 20? Check DIRECTV options at your address or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What time is 76ers vs. Knicks on opening night?
Tip-off is 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. NBC's pregame show starts at 6:30 p.m. ET.
What channel is 76ers vs. Knicks on DIRECTV?
The game is on NBC, so watch on your local NBC station. The channel number depends on your market. Press Guide and look for your NBC station's call letters, or search the team name.
Do I need Peacock to watch 76ers vs. Knicks?
No. Peacock streams the game, but the same broadcast airs on NBC, which DIRECTV includes as a local channel where available. Peacock is a separate subscription.
Is LeBron James playing against the Knicks?
The opener is scheduled to be LeBron James' first regular-season game with the 76ers. He sat out the preseason opener as a healthy inactive, so check the injury report on game day.
Is the 76ers-Knicks opener on MSG or NBC Sports Philadelphia?
No. The NBA lists NBC and Peacock as the only TV outlets for the game, so watch on your local NBC station in New York, Philadelphia and everywhere else.
Questions about getting NBC or your team's channel on DIRECTV? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 7, 2026. Tip times, TV assignments and broadcast plans are set by the NBA, its teams and their TV partners and may change. Player availability is often announced close to tip-off. Local channel availability, channel numbers, packages and prices vary by address and are subject to change. NBA, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video, ESPN, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.