Honestly, trying to figure out which channel for nba game tonight you actually need feels like a part-time job lately. Remember when it was just TNT on Thursdays and maybe a random game on ESPN? Those days are long gone. We are now officially in the first year of the NBA’s massive $77 billion media rights overhaul, and if you feel like you're constantly switching between four different apps just to see a tip-off, you aren't alone.
Tonight—Saturday, January 17, 2026—is a perfect example of how chaotic the schedule has become. We have a massive slate of nine games, ranging from early afternoon battles to late-night West Coast showdowns. But if you're looking for one single "national" channel to cover everything, you’re going to be disappointed. Because it's a Saturday in mid-January, the broadcast rights are split between ABC, Amazon Prime Video, and a whole bunch of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs).
Where to Find the National Broadcasts Tonight
If you just want to sit down and watch the "big" games everyone is talking about, Saturday nights in 2026 belong to the heavy hitters. Since the college football season is wrapped up, ABC has moved into its Saturday Night Basketball window.
ABC and ESPN are carrying the primary national load tonight. You've got the Boston Celtics taking on the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 p.m. ET. This is a regionalized broadcast in some areas, but for most of the country, it's the game of the night on your local ABC affiliate. If you don't have a dinky little antenna, you're looking at needing ESPN Unlimited (the new successor to ESPN+) or a cable login for the ESPN app.
But wait, there’s a catch.
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Amazon Prime Video has also carved out a piece of the Saturday pie this year. They typically grab afternoon games or specific doubleheaders that used to live on cable. For tonight, specifically, if you’re looking for the Golden State Warriors vs. Charlotte Hornets game at 8:30 p.m. ET, you might find it on Prime Video depending on your region. It’s part of that new 66-game regular-season package Amazon paid billions for. Basically, if you have a Prime subscription, you’re a "cable" subscriber now.
The Local Blackout Headache
This is where it gets kinda messy. Let's say you're a Lakers fan living in Los Angeles. You see that the Lakers are playing the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET. You check NBA TV because it says they’re broadcasting it. You sit down, grab your wings, turn it on, and... black screen.
Why? Because if you live in the local market, the game is "blacked out" on national TV to protect the local broadcaster. For the Lakers, that means you need Spectrum SportsNet. For the Blazers, you need KUNP or Root Sports.
Here is the breakdown of the regional channels for tonight’s games:
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- Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks (5:00 p.m. ET): Mostly on NBA League Pass, but locals in Dallas need MavsTV.
- Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET): This one is a big local draw on MSG in New York and Arizona’s Family in Phoenix.
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs (8:00 p.m. ET): Check FanDuel Sports Network (the artist formerly known as Bally Sports).
- Washington Wizards vs. Denver Nuggets (9:00 p.m. ET): Nuggets fans are likely stuck with Altitude, while Wizards fans are looking at Monumental Sports Network.
Why NBA TV Isn't What It Used To Be
In this new 2026 landscape, NBA TV has sort of become the "overflow" channel. It still carries about 60 live games a year, but they aren't exclusive. Most of what you see on NBA TV tonight—like that Lakers/Blazers matchup—is actually just a simulcast of a local feed.
If you're an out-of-market fan (meaning you live in, say, Florida but love the Jazz), NBA League Pass is still your best friend. The big change this year is that the NBA moved League Pass distribution primarily through Amazon Prime Video. You can still get it as a standalone app, but the league is really pushing people to subscribe through the Prime interface to keep everything in one place.
How to Watch if You Don't Have Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, finding the channel for nba game tonight requires a bit of a "digital toolbox." You can't just have one service anymore. To see every game tonight and through the rest of the season, you basically need three things:
- A Live TV Streamer: Think YouTube TV, Fubo, or DirecTV Stream. This gets you ABC, ESPN, and (crucially) your local channels.
- Peacock: Even though they don't have a game tonight, Peacock owns Monday nights and many Tuesday doubleheaders. If you miss tonight's games and want to catch the action on Monday, you’ll need this.
- Amazon Prime: For the Thursday/Friday doubleheaders and select Saturday games.
It’s expensive. I know. Between a $80/month YouTube TV sub and another $20 in streaming apps, being an NBA fan in 2026 is a luxury.
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Actionable Steps for Tonight
Before the games start, do these three things so you aren't frantically googling "how to watch" five minutes after tip-off:
- Check the "Home" Broadcaster: Use the NBA App or website and enter your zip code. It will tell you exactly which RSN owns the rights in your area.
- Sync your League Pass: If you bought League Pass through the NBA website, make sure you've linked it to your Prime Video or YouTube TV account if you prefer those interfaces.
- Update your Peacock/Prime Apps: These platforms often push updates right before big sports windows. Don't let a "10-minute install" screen ruin the first quarter.
The league is betting that we’ll follow the games wherever they go because the product on the floor is so good. With stars like Cooper Flagg now in the mix and the league's scoring at an all-time high, they might be right. Just make sure you know which remote to pick up before the whistle blows.
Pro Tip: If you are strictly looking for the Boston vs. Atlanta game, that is your best bet for a "traditional" TV experience tonight. Just flip to ABC and you're good to go. For everything else, start signing into your apps now.