NBA Opening Night 2026: Oct. 20–21 Schedule, Tip Times and Channels on DIRECTV
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with a three-game Opening Night on NBC and Peacock. It's the first time one network has carried three season-opening games. The first full slate follows on Wednesday, October 21, with 11 games, including an ESPN doubleheader. On DIRECTV, Tuesday's games are on your local NBC station and Wednesday's national games are on ESPN, channel 206.
Below are every Opening Night and Wednesday game with tip times, the channel for each on DIRECTV and how to stream them. The rest of opening week's national TV games are at the bottom.
Tuesday, Oct. 20: Opening Night schedule
| Tip-off (ET) | Game | Arena | TV and streaming | On DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Celtics at Pistons | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit | NBC, Peacock | Local NBC station |
| 7 p.m. | 76ers at Knicks | Madison Square Garden, New York | NBC, Peacock | Local NBC station |
| 9:30 p.m. | Thunder at Spurs | Frost Bank Center, San Antonio | NBC, Peacock | Local NBC station |
NBC's pregame show, NBA Showtime, starts at 6:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks raise their first championship banner since 1973 before facing Philadelphia.
Celtics at Pistons, 3 p.m. ET
The afternoon opener matches last season's top two regular-season teams in the East. Detroit went 60-22 behind Cade Cunningham, and Boston finished 56-26, but neither reached the conference finals. Jayson Tatum returns after his comeback from a 2025 Achilles injury, and the Celtics added Paul George in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia, plus Mitchell Robinson from the Knicks.
76ers at Knicks, 7 p.m. ET
Jalen Brunson, the 2026 NBA Finals MVP, and the champion Knicks open their title defense at home. LeBron James starts his record 24th season in his first regular-season game with the 76ers, who also added Brown from Boston.
Thunder at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET
The nightcap is a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals, which San Antonio won in seven games. Victor Wembanyama, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Spurs, and Oklahoma City counters with two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Wednesday, Oct. 21: full schedule
Wednesday's 11 games bring 22 more teams into the season. Two games are on ESPN nationally. The other nine air on local TV, such as regional sports networks and local stations, in the teams' home markets, and on NBA League Pass for fans outside those markets.
| Tip-off (ET) | Game | Arena | National TV | On DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | Hawks at Magic | Kia Center, Orlando | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 7 p.m. | Bucks at Wizards | Capital One Arena, Washington | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 7:30 p.m. | Timberwolves at Heat | Kaseya Center, Miami | ESPN | Channel 206 |
| 7:30 p.m. | Hornets at Nets | Barclays Center, Brooklyn | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 7:30 p.m. | Bulls at Raptors | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 8 p.m. | Jazz at Grizzlies | FedExForum, Memphis | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 8 p.m. | Pacers at Pelicans | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 8:30 p.m. | Mavericks at Rockets | Toyota Center, Houston | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 10 p.m. | Warriors at Lakers | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles | ESPN | Channel 206 |
| 10 p.m. | Suns at Trail Blazers | Moda Center, Portland | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
| 10:30 p.m. | Kings at Clippers | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif. | None (local TV, League Pass) | Local channels in home markets |
Timberwolves at Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
ESPN's season starts with two debuts. Giannis Antetokounmpo plays his first regular-season game for Miami, and LaMelo Ball plays his first game for Minnesota alongside Anthony Edwards.
Warriors at Lakers, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Stephen Curry and Golden State visit Luka Dončić, last season's scoring leader, and the Lakers. Curry and Dončić were the only two players to average at least four made 3-pointers a game last season.
TNT no longer has NBA games, but its Inside the NBA studio show now airs on ESPN, and it covers both opening-week ESPN doubleheaders on Oct. 21 and 22.
How to watch on DIRECTV
NBC doesn't have one national channel number on DIRECTV. It comes through your local NBC station, and the number depends on your market. DIRECTV includes local channels with its core packages wherever they're available, so ENTERTAINMENT and higher get all three Opening Night games. Press Guide and look for your NBC station's call letters, or search the team name.
- ESPN, channel 206: Wednesday's and Thursday's doubleheaders. Included with ENTERTAINMENT and higher and the MySports Genre Pack.
- Regional sports networks: carry the non-national Wednesday games in the teams' home markets. See our guide to watching local NBA games.
- Peacock: streams the three Opening Night games with a Peacock subscription, which is separate from DIRECTV. The Peacock app is available on DIRECTV Gemini devices.
- ESPN app: DIRECTV customers whose package includes ESPN can activate ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost and stream ESPN's games in the ESPN app.
Not sure you get your NBC station or your team's regional network? Call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check your address.
How to stream Opening Night without cable
- Tuesday, Oct. 20: all three games stream on Peacock.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21: the two ESPN games also stream on the ESPN app.
- Out-of-market games: NBA League Pass carries the other Wednesday games, subject to local blackouts.
- DIRECTV streaming: includes your local NBC station where local channels are available, and ESPN with packages and the MySports Genre Pack that carry it.
Rest of opening week on national TV
| Date | Tip-off (ET) | Game | TV | On DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 22 | 7 p.m. | Cavaliers at 76ers | ESPN | Channel 206 |
| Thu., Oct. 22 | 9:30 p.m. | Nuggets at Thunder | ESPN | Channel 206 |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | 7 p.m. | Knicks at Celtics | Prime Video | Prime Video app |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | 9:30 p.m. | Rockets at Spurs (Austin) | Prime Video | Prime Video app |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Bucks at 76ers | NBA TV | Channel 216 |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | 10 p.m. | Warriors at Suns | NBA TV | Channel 216 |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. | Raptors at Timberwolves | NBA TV | Channel 216 |
| Mon., Oct. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Mavericks at Heat | NBA TV | Channel 216 |
| Mon., Oct. 26 | 10 p.m. | Warriors at Nuggets | Peacock, NBCSN | Peacock app |
Thursday's opener is Philadelphia's home opener and LeBron James' first home game with the 76ers. Rockets at Spurs is at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Warriors at Nuggets also airs on NBCSN, which isn't part of DIRECTV's lineup, so DIRECTV customers should use Peacock. NBA TV games can be blacked out in the teams' home markets, where the local broadcast airs instead.
NBA channels on DIRECTV
| Network | DIRECTV channel | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| NBC | Your local NBC station | Packages with local channels, where available |
| ESPN | 206 | ENTERTAINMENT and higher; MySports Genre Pack |
| NBA TV | 216 | CHOICE and higher; MySports Genre Pack |
| Prime Video | App on Gemini devices | Separate Amazon subscription |
| Peacock | App on Gemini devices | Separate Peacock subscription |
For package details, see what channel NBA TV is on DIRECTV.
Which DIRECTV package is best for opening week?
- ENTERTAINMENT: your local NBC station for Opening Night, plus ESPN (206) for the Wednesday and Thursday doubleheaders.
- CHOICE: adds NBA TV (216) for the weekend games and your team's regional sports network where available. For most NBA fans, this is the package to start with.
- MySports Genre Pack: a sports-focused streaming option with ESPN, NBA TV and local channels where available.
For team-by-team local channels and League Pass, see our guide to watching the NBA on DIRECTV.
Want every opening-week channel before October 20? Check DIRECTV options at your address or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
When is NBA Opening Night 2026?
Opening Night is Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with three games on NBC and Peacock: Celtics at Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, 76ers at Knicks at 7 p.m. ET and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET. The first full slate follows on Wednesday, October 21, with 11 games.
What channel is NBA Opening Night on DIRECTV?
All three Tuesday games air on NBC, so tune to your local NBC station on DIRECTV. The channel number depends on your market. The games also stream on Peacock.
What NBA games are on TV on Wednesday, October 21?
ESPN has a doubleheader: Timberwolves at Heat at 7:30 p.m. ET and Warriors at Lakers at 10 p.m. ET, on DIRECTV channel 206. The other nine games air on local channels in the teams' home markets and on NBA League Pass outside them.
Is TNT showing NBA games this season?
No. TNT no longer carries NBA games. Inside the NBA, produced by TNT Sports, now airs on ESPN, including around the October 21 and 22 doubleheaders.
Can I watch NBA Opening Night without Peacock?
Yes. The Tuesday games are on NBC, which DIRECTV includes as a local channel with its core packages where available. Peacock is only needed if you want to stream them there.
Questions about NBC, ESPN or NBA TV on your plan? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 17, 2026. Tip times, TV assignments and player availability are set or reported by the NBA, its teams and their TV partners and may change. NBA TV games may be blacked out in the teams' home markets. Local channel availability, channel numbers, packages and prices vary by address and are subject to change. NBA, NBA TV, NBC, Peacock, ESPN, Prime Video, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.