Watching basketball used to be simple. You’d flip to TNT on a Thursday night, see Ernie and the guys, and that was that. Well, welcome to 2026, where the "Inside the NBA" crew has moved to ESPN/ABC, TNT is officially out of the live game business, and your "How do I stream NBA games" search probably feels like a part-time job.
Honestly, the league has scattered its rights like confetti. If you're trying to figure out where to find the Lakers or the Thunder tonight, you're not just looking for a channel; you're looking for a specific app based on the day of the week.
The New Weekly Routine: Who Owns What?
The biggest shock for most people this season is seeing games on NBC again. It took over 20 years, but the iconic "Roundball Rock" theme is back. But it’s not just about turning on a TV with a pair of rabbit ears. NBC shares its load with Peacock, and Amazon has muscled its way into the rotation in a massive way.
Here is the basic rhythm of the week for national games:
Monday belongs to Peacock. These are usually exclusives, so don't expect to find them on your cable box. Tuesdays are a mix of NBC and Peacock. Wednesdays remain the home of ESPN, keeping a bit of that traditional feel.
Then things get techy.
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Thursday and Friday have become the Amazon Prime Video nights. Now that the NFL season is wrapping up, Amazon is filling that Thursday night void with NBA doubleheaders. Saturdays are a wild card—sometimes it's ABC, sometimes it's more Amazon. By Sunday, you’re looking at ABC in the afternoon and NBC/Peacock for "Sunday Night Basketball."
How Do I Stream NBA Games Without Blackouts?
This is the billion-dollar question. If you live in the same city as your favorite team, NBA League Pass is probably going to break your heart. I’ve seen so many fans buy the $110-a-year (or $16.99/month) subscription only to realize they can’t watch their own team because of "local blackout" rules.
Basically, if a local Regional Sports Network (RSN) like FanDuel Sports Network (the old Bally Sports) or Gotham Sports has the rights, League Pass will lock you out of the live feed.
If you’re a local fan, you usually have two messy choices:
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- Pay for a "Live TV" streamer like DirecTV Stream or Fubo. They’re expensive—often $80 to $100 a month—but they are the only ones that reliably carry those local RSNs.
- Check if your local network has a standalone app. For example, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Hawks/Grizzlies) usually runs about $19.99 a month. It’s a steep price for one channel, but it’s cheaper than a full cable replacement.
League Pass and the Mid-Season Discount
If you’re a Mavs fan living in New York or a Sixers fan in Seattle, NBA League Pass is actually a dream. Since we’re now in January 2026, the price has plummeted. You can usually snag the rest of the season for around $49.99 right now.
I’d suggest the Premium tier if you have a couple of friends to split it with. It lets you stream on three devices at once and—this is the best part—you get the "in-arena" feed. Instead of watching the same five insurance commercials during a timeout, you get to watch the mascot launch t-shirts into the crowd or a guy try to balance ten chairs on his chin. It’s weirdly hypnotic.
The Secret to Making It Affordable
Buying everything is a trap. If you subscribed to ESPN Unlimited ($30), Peacock ($11), Amazon Prime ($15), and a local RSN ($20), you’d be out nearly $80 a month before you even bought a bag of chips.
Most people already have Amazon Prime for the shipping. If you do, that’s your Thursday/Friday games covered. If you’re a student, Peacock has a deal for about $5.99 a month, and the NBA offers a 40% discount on League Pass for anyone with a valid .edu email.
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Also, don't sleep on the over-the-air option. With the move to NBC and ABC, a simple $20 digital antenna from the store can get you a surprising number of weekend games in crisp HD without a single monthly fee.
What You Need to Do Right Now
Stop guessing where the game is. The most practical first step is to download the NBA App and favorite your team. It’ll tell you exactly which "broadcaster" has the game. If it says Prime or Peacock, you know you need to head to those specific apps. If it says ABC or NBC, grab that antenna or check your local listings.
If you're going the League Pass route, check for the mid-season "half-off" promos that usually hit right around now in mid-January. It’s the sweet spot for value before the playoff push starts. Just remember: if you’re trying to watch the team in your backyard, check the local RSN availability before you drop a single cent on a national streaming package.