The 2026-27 NBA season opens Tuesday, October 20, with a tripleheader on NBC and Peacock. It starts with a 3 p.m. ET matinee between the Celtics and Pistons, then the defending champion Knicks raise their banner at Madison Square Garden before hosting LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in their 76ers debuts, and the night closes with a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Thunder and Spurs.
Opening Night, Tuesday, October 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Celtics at Pistons | 3:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| 76ers at Knicks | 7:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thunder at Spurs | 9:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
The Rest of Opening Week
| Game | Date | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Timberwolves at Heat | Wed, Oct 21 | ESPN |
| Warriors at Lakers | Wed, Oct 21 | ESPN |
| Cavaliers at 76ers | Thu, Oct 22, 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Nuggets at Thunder | Thu, Oct 22, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Knicks at Celtics | Fri, Oct 23 | Prime Video |
| Rockets at Spurs | Fri, Oct 23 | Prime Video |
Storylines
Wednesday brings Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Heat debut against the Timberwolves and LaMelo Ball’s first game for Minnesota, plus Luka Doncic and the Lakers against Stephen Curry in the first Lakers game of the post LeBron era. Thursday is James and Brown’s home debut in Philadelphia against the Cavaliers. The NBA Cup group stage begins October 30 and the Cup final moves to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 11, its first time outside Las Vegas. Christmas Day opens with a Finals rematch, Spurs at Knicks at noon ET, and James returns to Los Angeles that afternoon.
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