How to Watch the NBA on DIRECTV: Channels, League Pass and Local Games
The 2026-27 NBA season is the second year of the league's TV deals with ABC and ESPN, NBC and Peacock, and Prime Video, and it's the first season after FanDuel Sports Network shut down. Those two changes decide where you'll find your games on DIRECTV. This guide covers the national channels, NBA League Pass, and the team-by-team local picture, starting with this week's preseason games.
Quick answer:
- National games on TV: ESPN (206), ESPN2 (209), NBA TV (216) and your local ABC and NBC stations.
- Streaming-only national games: Prime Video and Peacock, each a separate subscription. TNT no longer carries the NBA.
- NBA TV: channel 216, CHOICE package and higher, or the MySports Genre Pack.
- Your local team: a regional sports network, a local broadcast station or DAZN, depending on the team.
- Out-of-market teams: NBA League Pass, a DIRECTV add-on for satellite and streaming customers.
Not sure what you'll get at your address? Call 1-855-690-9884.
This Week's NBA Games on DIRECTV (Preseason: Oct. 2–8, 2026)
Most preseason games air only on each team's local outlets. These are the nationally televised games in the next seven days (10 on national TV out of 23 total preseason games in the window). All times are Eastern.
| Date | Tip-off (ET) | Game | Network | Where to find it on DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat. Oct. 3 | 7 p.m. | Heat vs. Raptors (NBA Canada Games) | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Sun. Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. | Jazz at Nuggets | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Mon. Oct. 5 | 7 p.m. | Knicks at 76ers | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Mon. Oct. 5 | 10 p.m. | Lakers at Kings | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Tue. Oct. 6 | 7 p.m. | Nets at Hornets | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Tue. Oct. 6 | 10 p.m. | Lakers at Warriors | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Wed. Oct. 7 | 7 p.m. | Timberwolves at Pacers | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Wed. Oct. 7 | 10 p.m. | Warriors at Trail Blazers | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Thu. Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Wizards at Knicks | NBA TV | NBA TV, ch. 216 (CHOICE and higher) |
| Thu. Oct. 8 | 10:30 p.m. | Kings at Lakers | ESPN2 | ESPN2, ch. 209 |
How to read this table: ESPN and ESPN2 come with ENTERTAINMENT and higher packages, and these games also stream in the ESPN app with ESPN Unlimited, which DIRECTV offers at no extra cost to eligible customers. NBA TV may add more preseason games, so check channel 216 in your guide. Other preseason games air on each team's local partner. Full details are in our 2026 NBA preseason guide.
Coming up (still preseason / opening week):
- Beyond this window: More NBA TV and ESPN preseason games land Oct. 9–11 (including Spurs at Suns on ESPN2 and Magic at Cavaliers / Bulls at Nuggets on ESPN on Oct. 11).
- Tue., Oct. 20 (NBC and Peacock): Celtics vs. Pistons, 76ers at Knicks (the champion Knicks' banner night) and Thunder vs. Spurs.
- Wed., Oct. 21 (ESPN): Timberwolves at Heat, then Warriors at Lakers.
Want NBA TV before opening night? Call 1-855-690-9884.
NBA channels on DIRECTV
| Network | DIRECTV channel | What NBA basketball airs there | Included with |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Your local ABC station | NBA Saturday Primetime (starting Dec. 12), Sunday afternoon doubleheaders in February and March, Christmas Day games, the NBA Finals | Packages with local channels, where available |
| ESPN | 206 | Wednesday doubleheaders, Friday doubleheaders starting in January, playoff games and the Western Conference Finals | ENTERTAINMENT and higher; MySports |
| ESPN2 | 209 | Select ESPN games | ENTERTAINMENT and higher; MySports |
| NBC | Your local NBC station | Opening night, Tuesday and Sunday night games, All-Star Weekend and playoff games | Packages with local channels, where available |
| NBA TV | 216 | About 60 regular-season games starting Oct. 24, plus daily shows | CHOICE and higher; MySports |
| Prime Video | App on Gemini devices | Friday games (Thursdays and Saturday afternoons from midseason), NBA Cup knockout rounds, the Play-In Tournament and the Eastern Conference Finals | Separate Amazon subscription |
| Peacock | App on Gemini devices | Monday night exclusives and streams of every NBC game | Separate Peacock subscription |
| NBA League Pass | Add-on | Out-of-market regular-season games | Separate add-on |
Peacock's Monday games also air on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), but NBCSN isn't part of DIRECTV's lineup, so you'll need Peacock for those. For more on NBA TV, see what channel NBA TV is on, and for ESPN2, our ESPN2 channel guide.
Where NBA games air in 2026-27
- The regular season runs from Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, to Sunday, April 11, 2027.
- NBC and Peacock have 100 regular-season games, including opening night, Holiday Hoops in late December and All-Star Weekend in Phoenix (Feb. 19–21, 2027).
- ABC and ESPN have 80 regular-season games, including all five Christmas Day games, plus the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals on ABC.
- Prime Video has 66 regular-season games, the NBA Cup knockout rounds and championship (Dec. 11 in Indianapolis), all six Play-In games and the Eastern Conference Finals.
Typical weekly pattern once the full schedule is running: Monday on Peacock, Tuesday on NBC and Peacock, Wednesday on ESPN, Thursday on Prime Video (from January), Friday on Prime Video and ESPN, Saturday on Prime Video in the afternoon and ABC or ESPN at night, and Sunday on ABC in the afternoon and NBC and Peacock at night.
How to watch your local NBA team on DIRECTV
FanDuel Sports Network, which carried 13 NBA teams last season, shut down after the 2025-26 regular season. Those teams now use free local broadcast stations, team apps or DAZN. Teams that were already on other networks, like NBC Sports Boston or MSG, mostly stayed put. On DIRECTV, how you watch depends on the kind of local home your team has:
- Regional sports network: included starting with the CHOICE package where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code. A regional sports fee may apply. See our guide to DIRECTV regional sports networks and the regional sports fee.
- Local broadcast station: on your DIRECTV local channels if DIRECTV carries that station in your market. Some teams use secondary stations or subchannels, so check your lineup.
- DAZN: a separate streaming subscription. DAZN isn't a DIRECTV channel.
Team-by-team: where local games air in 2026-27
| Team | Local TV home (2026-27) | What you need on DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Gray Media stations across Georgia (free over the air) | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Boston Celtics | NBC Sports Boston | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Brooklyn Nets | YES Network; select games also stream on DAZN | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Charlotte Hornets | WSOC-TV and TV64 in Charlotte, plus partner stations across the Carolinas; team app powered by DAZN | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago Sports Network | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | DAZN (exclusive local home) | Streams on DAZN, a separate subscription. Not a DIRECTV channel |
| Dallas Mavericks | WFAA and KFAA (free over the air); MavsTV app | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Denver Nuggets | Altitude Sports | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Detroit Pistons | WMYD in Detroit plus Scripps stations across Michigan; DAZN streaming | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Golden State Warriors | NBC Sports Bay Area | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Houston Rockets | Space City Home Network | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Indiana Pacers | DAZN (exclusive local home) | Streams on DAZN, a separate subscription. Not a DIRECTV channel |
| LA Clippers | Not announced as of Oct. 1, 2026 | Not announced as of Oct. 1. Call us before opening night |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Spectrum SportsNet | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Memphis Grizzlies | DAZN (exclusive local home) | Streams on DAZN, a separate subscription. Not a DIRECTV channel |
| Miami Heat | WPLG Local 10 (free over the air); Local 10+ app | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Milwaukee Bucks | MY24 in Milwaukee plus partner stations around Wisconsin (free over the air) | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | DAZN (exclusive local home) | Streams on DAZN, a separate subscription. Not a DIRECTV channel |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network on Gray Media stations | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| New York Knicks | MSG Network; select games also stream on DAZN | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Thunder Gameday Network on Griffin Media stations; Thunder+ in the NBA App | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Orlando Magic | WRDQ TV 27 and WFTV Channel 9, plus partner stations elsewhere in Florida | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Philadelphia 76ers | NBC Sports Philadelphia | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| Phoenix Suns | Arizona's Family Sports (free over the air); Suns+ app | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Rip City Television Network (KUNP and KATU partners); BlazerVision app | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Sacramento Kings | NBC Sports California | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
| San Antonio Spurs | DAZN (exclusive local home) | Streams on DAZN, a separate subscription. Not a DIRECTV channel |
| Toronto Raptors | TSN and Sportsnet (Canada) | Out of market in the U.S.: national games or NBA League Pass |
| Utah Jazz | KJZZ (free over the air); Jazz+ app | Local broadcast stations: on your DIRECTV local channels where those stations are carried. Team streaming apps are separate |
| Washington Wizards | Monumental Sports Network; select games also stream on DAZN | Regional sports network: CHOICE or higher (or MySports with MyHome Team), where DIRECTV carries it in your ZIP code |
Games picked for national TV air on the national network instead of the local outlet. Team not showing up in your guide? Call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check your ZIP code.
Teams on DAZN
DAZN is the exclusive local home of the Cavaliers, Pacers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Spurs this season, and it streams select local games for several other teams. It's sold by team, with monthly and season passes, and it's only for viewers inside each team's home area. Out-of-market fans still need League Pass. DAZN games aren't on any DIRECTV channel unless they're picked for national TV.
Teams on free local TV
The Hawks, Hornets, Mavericks, Pistons, Heat, Bucks, Thunder, Magic, Suns, Trail Blazers, Jazz and Pelicans air most local games on broadcast stations. That's good news for DIRECTV customers in those markets, since local channels come with every package where they're available. Just confirm the specific station is in your DIRECTV lineup. For more options, see our guide to watching local NBA games.
NBA League Pass on DIRECTV
What you get
NBA League Pass shows out-of-market regular-season games, up to 40 a week, live or on demand. DIRECTV says the 2026-27 package arrives in October.
Satellite vs. streaming
Satellite customers add NBA League Pass, and DIRECTV streaming customers add NBA League Pass Premium. Genre Pack customers, including MySports, can add League Pass Premium and are billed monthly during the regular season.
What it doesn't include
Games involving your local team are blacked out, and so are games on exclusive national TV. League Pass is a regular-season product, so playoff games air on the national networks.
How to add it
Current customers can add League Pass in their DIRECTV account online, from the TV, by calling DIRECTV customer service or by texting NBA to 223322 from the phone number on the account. New to DIRECTV? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to set up service first.
Which DIRECTV option fits your basketball habit?
| If you want... | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| National games only | ENTERTAINMENT or higher, with local channels | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and NBC |
| National games plus NBA TV | CHOICE or higher | Adds NBA TV (216) and regional sports networks where available |
| A sports-only streaming plan | MySports Genre Pack ($64.99/mo) | ESPN, NBA TV, ABC, NBC and ESPN Unlimited; add MyHome Team for a local regional network |
| Your local team | Depends on the team | See the team table above |
| Every out-of-market team | NBA League Pass add-on | Up to 40 out-of-market games a week |
| Prime Video and Peacock games | Those apps (separate) | Prime streams 66 regular-season games; Peacock has the Monday exclusives |
Intro offers on MySports change often, so check our MySports guide. Compare DIRECTV packages or check service at your address, or call 1-855-690-9884.
NBA playoffs and Finals on DIRECTV
The postseason opens with the Play-In Tournament, which streams only on Prime Video. First- and second-round series are split among ABC and ESPN, NBC and Peacock, and Prime Video. The Western Conference Finals are on ESPN and ABC, the Eastern Conference Finals are on Prime Video, and the NBA Finals are on ABC. League Pass doesn't cover the playoffs.
Tips so you never miss a game
- Search the DIRECTV guide by team name to find upcoming games across every channel.
- Gemini owners can link Prime Video and Peacock and follow teams in Sports Central.
- Activate ESPN Unlimited once so ESPN and ABC games stream on your phone too.
- Bookmark this page. We refresh the games table each week of the season.
Find DIRECTV service in NBA cities: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Washington, D.C..
Frequently asked questions
What channel is the NBA on DIRECTV?
National games air on ESPN (channel 206), ESPN2 (209), NBA TV (216) and your local ABC and NBC stations. Games on Prime Video and Peacock stream in those apps, which need their own subscriptions. Local-team games depend on your team's TV partner and your ZIP code.
Is TNT still showing NBA games?
No. TNT stopped carrying the NBA after the 2024-25 season. National games are now on ABC and ESPN, NBC and Peacock, Prime Video and NBA TV.
Can I get NBA League Pass on DIRECTV?
Yes. DIRECTV satellite customers can add NBA League Pass, and streaming customers can add NBA League Pass Premium. It shows up to 40 out-of-market games a week during the regular season, and DIRECTV says the 2026-27 package arrives in October.
What channel is NBA TV on DIRECTV?
NBA TV is channel 216. It comes with the CHOICE package and higher and with the MySports Genre Pack.
When does the 2026-27 NBA season start?
The regular season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, with a tripleheader on NBC and Peacock. Preseason games start Saturday, Oct. 3.
Why can't I find my team's local games on DIRECTV?
FanDuel Sports Network shut down after the 2025-26 regular season, so several teams moved their local games to broadcast stations, DAZN or new networks. Check the team table on this page, then call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll confirm what's available at your address.
What channel are the NBA Finals on?
The 2027 NBA Finals air exclusively on ABC, which DIRECTV includes as a local channel where locals are available.
Basketball questions? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 2, 2026. Schedules, channel lineups, local TV partners, regional network carriage, blackout rules and package prices are subject to change, and taxes may apply. NBA, NBA League Pass, NBA TV, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.