After an electrifying offseason and a lineup upgrade that promises faster transitions and deeper shooting range, the Portland Trail Blazers are entering the 2025–2026 NBA season with high expectations. With emerging talent anchoring the roster and a stacked Western Conference schedule ahead, fans are eager to catch every fast break, fadeaway jumper, and clutch fourth-quarter drive.
Staying connected to each game—whether it’s a primetime showdown or an East Coast tip-off—isn’t just a fan’s luxury; it’s a necessity for anyone following the storylines of the new season. That means having the right access, whether through a traditional cable package or a modern digital setup. DirecTV, with its blend of satellite channels and integrated streaming options, stands at the intersection of both. Wondering where to tune in, or how to stream from your phone while traveling? Let’s break down exactly how to watch every Blazers matchup all season long.
The Portland Trail Blazers tip off their 2025-2026 campaign with a high-stakes home opener against the Denver Nuggets on October 22, 2025. A rematch of last season’s Western Conference showdown, this game sets a tone of intensity early on. Circle November 12—Portland visits the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, always a litmus test against a veteran powerhouse.
High-profile matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers are spread across the schedule, with the first encounter at the Moda Center on Christmas Day. The star-studded clash is expected to draw a national primetime audience. The rivalry with the Sacramento Kings heats up mid-season, with two games in a five-day span in February.
Out-of-conference opponents add spice to the schedule. The Trail Blazers will host the Boston Celtics on January 18, 2026. Fans should mark March 4 on the calendar as well—Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks make their lone Portland appearance, a game scheduled for a national Saturday night slot. Later that month, on March 23, the Blazers travel to face the Miami Heat in what’s expected to be a pivotal late-season match steeped in playoff implications.
Portland appears in eight officially scheduled primetime games through January, with ESPN and TNT rotating coverage. Additional games may be flexed into national slots based on playoff relevance and player performances.
Some of these broadcasts may include pre-game and post-game analysis segments. NBC Sports, joining the NBA’s roster of national broadcast partners for the 2025-2026 season, will feature the Portland Trail Blazers twice in Sunday showcase slots—dates for those are yet to be finalized.
The 2025-2026 NBA season ushers in a restructured media landscape. In July 2025, the league’s current broadcasting deals expire, making way for a significant rights shake-up. Under the new arrangement, three confirmed networks are set to carry national NBA coverage: ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Negotiations have also opened the door for a major return—NBC is expected to re-enter the NBA broadcasting lineup, solidifying a four-network model not seen since the early 2000s.
Under the proposed framework, each network will secure a specific package of games:
This distribution solidifies network identities: ESPN handles regular midweek coverage, TNT centers on primetime entertainment, ABC remains the home for high-profile contests, and NBC aims to blend traditional broadcasts with a robust digital push.
The NBA's next media contract emphasizes a multi-tiered distribution model that spreads availability across cable channels, regional sports networks (RSNs), and direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms. Here’s how access will be layered:
This tiered approach ensures that Trail Blazers fans—and all NBA viewers—can watch live games through various access points, depending on preference and location. While traditional TV still holds a dominant share, digital platforms are designed to accommodate growing preference for on-demand and cross-device viewing.
DirecTV holds full access to NBA broadcasts through a combination of regional sports networks (RSNs), national channels, and the NBA League Pass subscription. Whether you're following your local Trail Blazers broadcast or catching a primetime matchup on a major network, the platform offers comprehensive coverage throughout the 2025–2026 season.
The core of DirecTV's NBA offering lies in its robust lineup of channels. RSNs bring you local team broadcasts, while national carriers handle marquis matchups, playoffs, and NBA Finals coverage.
DirecTV integrates NBA League Pass directly into its platform as a premium add-on. This service provides live out-of-market games, allowing fans outside the Portland market to follow every Trail Blazers game that’s not nationally blacked out. Games are accessible on dedicated League Pass channels, and subscribers can enjoy up to 40 live games per week during the regular season.
Looking for a full-season experience without switching platforms or juggling apps? DirecTV merges all your NBA viewing—local, national, and out-of-market—on one consistent interface.
NBA fans on DirecTV don’t have to guess which subscription level delivers the best experience—several tiers cater specifically to basketball viewers looking for regional games, national matchups, and full-season coverage. To catch every Portland Trail Blazers game, including home broadcasts and nationally televised clashes, matching your viewing habits with the right DirecTV package makes all the difference.
DIRECTV CHOICE™ includes access to regional sports networks (RSNs), which are vital for watching most Trail Blazers regular season games. In-market fans will receive Root Sports Northwest, the RSN carrying Trail Blazers broadcasts.
This package routinely covers the games that are blacked out on national networks due to local rights. If you're in the Pacific Northwest market, this level offers solid Trail Blazers coverage.
DIRECTV ULTIMATE™ builds on CHOICE™ but expands its reach by including additional national sports channels and coverage of out-of-region NBA narratives. Basketball fans following the broader league, playoff contenders, or future Trail Blazers opponents benefit here.
With more channels and sports options, this package matches fans who track the league beyond just Portland games.
DIRECTV PREMIER™ includes NBA League Pass out of the box, offering the most complete NBA access available. For fans wanting to follow the entire season, including non-televised games and out-of-market teams, PREMIER delivers unmatched value.
This tier targets the die-hards—those who want high-definition access to every available NBA game, including rare matchups and full court replays.
As of the 2025-2026 pricing cycle, DIRECTV subscription tiers are structured as follows (based on a 24-month commitment and promotional pricing for new customers):
Additional sports-specific add-ons include:
Each package includes the DIRECTV Genie HD DVR, allowing recording of multiple games simultaneously—ideal for overlapping game nights and full-league tracking. Depending on how many games you want to catch, how immersed you are in the wider NBA, and how often you want to record or stream content, one of these three tiers will fit.
Portland Trail Blazers fans in the Pacific Northwest will find the majority of the team’s regular season games broadcast on ROOT Sports Northwest. This RSN holds the regional broadcasting rights for the Trail Blazers in the 2025–2026 NBA season, airing both home and away games that aren't nationally televised. Coverage typically includes in-depth pre-game analysis, post-game interviews, and behind-the-scenes content.
Subscribers in Oregon and southern Washington will receive ROOT Sports Northwest as part of DirecTV’s channel lineup, assuming they subscribe to one of the packages that includes regional sports coverage. In Portland, Eugene, Salem, and surrounding metropolitan areas, ROOT Sports is typically available on channel 687, though this may vary slightly depending on zip code alignment with regional broadcast rights.
Viewers in extended areas like Boise, Idaho or northern California may face altered access due to regional restrictions. DirecTV uses zip codes to determine RSN availability, and subscribers can confirm this by checking the channel lineup on the provider’s website or by contacting customer support directly for confirmation based on their service address.
If ROOT Sports Northwest doesn’t appear in your DirecTV package due to regional limitations, there are effective alternatives to stay connected with every Blazers game:
For those who travel frequently or live just outside the designated broadcast area and still want access to ROOT Sports coverage, exploring DirecTV Stream’s Choice or Ultimate packages could unlock expanded regional content zones.
Several Portland Trail Blazers games during the 2025–2026 NBA season will be broadcast nationally across major networks. To access these matchups on DirecTV, subscribers only need to tune in to the correct channel on game day. The channels carrying these broadcasts are part of DirecTV’s standard and sports packages, covering ABC, NBC (if they secure NBA rights), ESPN, and TNT.
Nationally televised games typically spotlight marquee matchups, high-performing teams, or rivalry showdowns. The Trail Blazers regularly appear in these lineups depending on their standing and star power. To stay informed, check the official NBA schedule or set up auto-recording for Blazers games through your DirecTV DVR.
For Sunday afternoon fans, ABC will continue its flagship NBA Sunday Showcase, regularly featuring Western Conference matchups. If the Trail Blazers are scheduled for one of these high-visibility games, ABC will carry the telecast across all U.S. markets. Use your DirecTV guide and set a weekly reminder to catch these national broadcasts.
Should NBC finalize national broadcast rights for the NBA starting this season, select Trail Blazers games may fall under its flagship Saturday or Sunday night prime-time sports window. NBC’s return would mirror a 1990s-style format, which includes studio commentary, halftime analysis, and coast-to-coast coverage. The exact format and schedule will depend on the finalized agreement, but DirecTV subscribers will not need to purchase any additional programming beyond their local NBC affiliate channel.
NBA League Pass is the league’s premium subscription service offering live, out-of-market regular season games with advanced viewing features. Through DirecTV, subscribers can access hundreds of games not broadcast in their local area—ideal for Portland Trail Blazers fans living outside Oregon or committed followers eager to track every moment of the 2025–2026 season.
Adding NBA League Pass on DirecTV follows a simple process. Use your remote to navigate to channel 750 or press the Menu button, go to “Sports,” and select “Subscriptions.” From there, choose NBA League Pass and confirm your purchase. Alternatively, log into your DirecTV account online, head to the programming section, and add the package under sports subscriptions.
During the 2025–2026 season, DirecTV will offer NBA League Pass in two formats:
Pricing reflects standard rates as of the season start in October 2025. Mid-season subscriptions typically reduce in cost, but full access to archived games and features remains available.
Want to follow the Trail Blazers from preseason to playoffs without missing a beat? NBA League Pass on DirecTV delivers the most expansive and immersive coverage available for out-of-market viewers.
Tracking down the right channel before tipoff doesn’t need to take longer than a timeout. DirecTV offers full support for NBA broadcasts through both national networks and regional sports channels. Here’s where to look when you're ready to watch the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2025-2026 NBA season.
Locating upcoming games is seamless with the DirecTV on-screen guide and DirecTV app. From your remote, press the Guide button, then navigate by sports category or search directly using the team name or keywords like “Trail Blazers.”
On the mobile app, type “Portland Trail Blazers” into the search bar—this will display all live and upcoming broadcasts across channels including NBA TV, ESPN, TNT, and your RSN. Want reminders? Set alerts and record games with a single tap from the program detail screen.
Game times and channel assignments sometimes shift due to scheduling changes or network exclusivity, so checking the guide one or two days before game night guarantees the most accurate information.
DirecTV offers two delivery methods: traditional satellite service and DirecTV Stream. For fans prioritizing flexibility and mobility, DirecTV Stream accommodates modern viewing habits without forfeiting access to NBA broadcasts, including Portland Trail Blazers matchups.
The main advantage of DirecTV Stream lies in its lack of equipment setup. There’s no need for a satellite dish—only an internet connection. This gives users the ability to stream games live from virtually anywhere in the U.S., depending on regional blackout policies. Access to local Bally Sports networks, national broadcasters like ESPN or TNT, and optional NBA League Pass makes DirecTV Stream feature-rich for basketball viewers.
Satellite subscribers still benefit from a stable broadcast signal, especially in areas with limited internet speed. However, it lacks the portability and device compatibility options that define the streaming experience.
DirecTV Stream supports a wide range of devices, enabling viewers to follow Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers across screens:
This broad compatibility ensures fans can launch a live Trail Blazers broadcast from the living room, on a commuter train, or while traveling—all without missing a possession.
DirecTV Stream allows up to 20 simultaneous streams within the same home network. Users can also stream on up to three devices outside the home at the same time. This allocation covers households with numerous viewers—some watching Portland’s game, others catching different NBA matchups, and still others streaming unrelated content, all without interference.
DirecTV Stream does not automatically include NBA TV or League Pass in its base plans. However, both can be added as premium options:
Purchasing League Pass through DirecTV Stream integrates the content into the TV guide, allowing smoother navigation and game tracking through one interface.
If you're based in Portland or within the Trail Blazers' designated market, the most consistent viewing experience comes from Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). DirecTV carries ROOT SPORTS Northwest, which broadcasts the majority of the Blazers' regular season games. This option ensures access to pre-game and post-game coverage, live commentary from local analysts, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content that national broadcasts miss.
Fans living outside the Blazers' regional zone won't receive ROOT SPORTS on DirecTV by default. For complete access to every game not picked up by national networks, choose NBA League Pass. DirecTV integrates League Pass channels directly, usually accessible around channels 750–768. Purchasing the full season grants over 30 Blazers games not available via national broadcasts, all in HD with home or away commentary options.
Select Trail Blazers matchups—particularly those featuring key players or playoff implications—air on ABC, NBC, ESPN, and TNT. These games don't require additional subscriptions if you're on the DirecTV CHOICE™ package or higher. Stay tuned especially for marquee matchups against Lakers, Warriors, Suns, or Nuggets; they frequently land in primetime national slots.
Review your location, habits, and budget. Align them with the right DirecTV offering, and you won’t miss a single crossover, clutch shot, or fast break this 2025–2026 season.
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