How to Watch Warriors vs. Lakers on DIRECTV: Season Opener Tip-Off Time and ESPN Channel
ESPN opens its NBA regular season with one of the league's most-watched matchups. The Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and the game airs nationally on ESPN, which is channel 206 on DIRECTV.
ESPN's doubleheader starts with Timberwolves at Heat at 7:30 p.m. ET, and this is the nightcap. It's the season opener for both teams and the Lakers' first regular-season game since LeBron James left for Philadelphia. It's also Stephen Curry's 18th season opener with Golden State. Here's how to watch on DIRECTV, how to stream it and what to know before tip-off.
Warriors vs. Lakers: quick facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT |
| National TV | ESPN (DIRECTV channel 206) |
| Streaming | ESPN app; DIRECTV app with a package that includes ESPN |
| Arena | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles |
| Radio | ESPN LA 710 and 980 KFWB (Lakers); SiriusXM |
| Game type | Regular-season opener for both teams |
What channel is Warriors vs. Lakers on DIRECTV?
Tune to ESPN on channel 206. ESPN comes with the ENTERTAINMENT package and higher, and it's also part of the MySports Genre Pack. Our ESPN channel guide covers every DIRECTV package.
This is a national ESPN game. The NBA's game listing shows ESPN as the only TV outlet, with no local telecast on Spectrum SportsNet or NBC Sports Bay Area, so channel 206 is where to watch in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and everywhere else.
Need ESPN before opening week? Call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check your package.
How to stream Warriors vs. Lakers
- DIRECTV app: if your package includes ESPN, you can watch on your phone, tablet or streaming device with the DIRECTV app.
- ESPN app: DIRECTV customers whose package includes ESPN can activate ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost and stream the game in the ESPN app.
- DIRECTV streaming: ESPN is included with ENTERTAINMENT and higher and with the MySports Genre Pack.
- NBA League Pass: the NBA's game page says this one won't stream live on League Pass. A replay is posted at 6 a.m. ET the next day.
Warriors vs. Lakers channels on DIRECTV
| Network | DIRECTV channel | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | 206 | ENTERTAINMENT and higher; MySports Genre Pack |
| ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited) | Streaming | Eligible DIRECTV customers with ESPN, at no extra cost |
What to know before tip-off
- Life after LeBron: James signed with the 76ers this summer, so the Lakers start the season built around Luka Dončić. Dončić averaged 33.5 points per game last season but missed the playoffs with a left hamstring strain.
- How last season ended: the Lakers went 53-29 and won the Pacific Division, beat Houston in the first round, then were swept by Oklahoma City in the second round. The Warriors went 37-45 and lost to Phoenix in the Play-In Tournament.
- Curry, Green and a long wait for Butler: Curry and Draymond Green return for another season together. Jimmy Butler is still recovering from surgery on the right ACL he tore in January, and the Warriors haven't set a return date.
- Same opener as last year: these teams also opened the 2025-26 season against each other in Los Angeles, and the Warriors won 119-109. The Lakers took the next three meetings.
- A preseason preview: the Warriors beat the Lakers 124-98 at Chase Center on October 6, when the Lakers rested Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler on the second night of a back-to-back. The teams meet again in the preseason on October 13 in Las Vegas.
- Check availability on game day: both teams post injury reports before tip-off, so confirm who's playing that afternoon.
Warriors and Lakers on national TV: the next few weeks
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 8 | Kings at Lakers (preseason) | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (209) |
| Tue., Oct. 13 | Warriors vs. Lakers (preseason, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas) | 10 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Fri., Oct. 16 | Nuggets at Lakers (preseason) | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN (206) |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Warriors at Suns | 10 p.m. | NBA TV (216) |
| Mon., Oct. 26 | Warriors at Nuggets | 10 p.m. | Peacock (app) |
| Tue., Oct. 27 | Trail Blazers at Lakers | 11 p.m. | NBC and Peacock |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Lakers at Warriors | 10 p.m. | Prime Video (app) |
Peacock's Monday game also airs on NBCSN, which isn't part of DIRECTV's lineup, so you'll need the Peacock app for that one. NBC games air on your local NBC station. Prime Video and Peacock are separate subscriptions, and both apps are 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, and the remaining exhibition games are in our 2026 NBA preseason guide.
Which DIRECTV package is best for Warriors and Lakers fans?
- ENTERTAINMENT: includes ESPN (206) and ESPN2 (209) for this game and other national games, plus local channels where available for NBC games.
- CHOICE: adds NBA TV (216) and regional sports networks where available, like Spectrum SportsNet for the Lakers and NBC Sports Bay Area for the Warriors. 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 ESPN, NBA TV and your team's channel on one plan? Check DIRECTV options at your address or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Warriors vs. Lakers on October 21?
Tip-off is 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
What channel is Warriors vs. Lakers on DIRECTV?
The game is on ESPN, channel 206 on DIRECTV. ESPN comes with ENTERTAINMENT and higher packages and with the MySports Genre Pack.
Is Warriors vs. Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet or NBC Sports Bay Area?
No. The NBA lists ESPN as the only TV outlet for the game, so watch on ESPN (channel 206) in both markets.
Can I stream Warriors vs. Lakers?
Yes. Stream it in the DIRECTV app with a package that includes ESPN, or in the ESPN app with ESPN Unlimited, which eligible DIRECTV customers can activate at no extra cost. It isn't available live on NBA League Pass.
When do the Warriors and Lakers play again?
After a preseason game on October 13 in Las Vegas (NBA TV), they meet again in the regular season on Friday, October 30, at 10 p.m. ET in San Francisco, on Prime Video.
Questions about ESPN or NBA TV on your plan? 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. Channel numbers, packages and prices vary by address and are subject to change. NBA, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.