Finding out which network is actually carrying the game has become a bit of a headache lately. Between the new media deals, regional blackouts, and the alphabet soup of streaming services, just sitting down to watch the Purple and Gold take on Anthony Edwards and the Wolves shouldn't feel like a part-time job.
Honestly, the answer usually depends on where you’re sitting. If you’re in Los Angeles or Minneapolis, you've got the "home" networks. If you’re a fan in Chicago or New York, you're hunting for a national broadcast or a streaming login.
Lakers vs Timberwolves What Channel: The National TV Breakdown
For the 2025-26 season, the NBA’s new broadcasting landscape is in full swing. This means you aren't just looking at the old-school ESPN and TNT rotation anymore.
NBC and Peacock are now major players for the Lakers. Because of the star power on both rosters—we’re talking LeBron James and Luka Doncic in LA versus the Ant-Man in Minnesota—this matchup is a magnet for national TV slots. Many of these marquee games have moved to NBC on Tuesday nights or Sunday nights after the NFL season wraps up.
If the game isn't on big NBC, it’s often a Peacock exclusive. You won’t find those on your traditional cable box. You’ve gotta open the app.
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Then there’s Amazon Prime Video. They’ve taken over the Friday night slot. If you see a Lakers vs Timberwolves game scheduled for a Friday, there's a massive chance you’ll need a Prime membership to catch the tip-off.
- ABC/ESPN: Still carries the "Game of the Week" on Saturdays and various Wednesday night doubleheaders.
- NBA TV: Usually handles the games that don't quite make the "A-tier" national cut but are too good for local-only coverage.
Watching Locally in Southern California
If you are within the Lakers' home territory—which stretches from Santa Barbara down to San Diego and even out to Las Vegas—Spectrum SportsNet is your primary home.
Basically, if the game isn't an exclusive national broadcast on NBC or Amazon, it’s going to be on Spectrum. For cord-cutters in the area, they launched Spectrum SportsNet+, which is a standalone streaming service. You don't need a full cable package anymore; you can just pay for the channel itself.
Interesting side note for tech junkies: The Lakers recently started broadcasting select games in "Apple Immersive" for Vision Pro users. If you've got one of those headsets and live in LA, you can basically sit courtside from your couch.
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The Minnesota Feed: FanDuel Sports Network North
Things changed for Wolves fans recently, too. The old Bally Sports North is now FanDuel Sports Network North (FDSN).
If you live in the Twin Cities or the surrounding five-state area, this is where most of the 82-game schedule lives. Most fans access this through providers like DIRECTV Stream or Fubo, as some of the smaller streaming bundles still haven't reached an agreement to carry the regional sports networks (RSNs).
What About NBA League Pass?
League Pass is great, but it has a "gotcha" that catches people every year.
If you are a Lakers fan living in Los Angeles, you cannot watch the Lakers vs Timberwolves game on League Pass if it's being shown on Spectrum SportsNet. It’ll be blacked out. The same goes for Wolves fans in Minnesota.
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League Pass is strictly for "out-of-market" fans. If you’re a Lakers fan living in Florida, League Pass is your best friend. It gives you every game that isn't on national TV (like ESPN or NBC).
How to Stream if You Don't Have Cable
If you’ve ditched the satellite dish, you have a few solid paths to find the Lakers vs Timberwolves what channel information on your smart TV:
- YouTube TV: Carries ESPN, ABC, and NBC. It does not carry the regional FanDuel or Spectrum channels.
- Hulu + Live TV: Similar to YouTube TV, good for the big national games but limited on the local side.
- DIRECTV Stream: This is currently the "holy grail" for sports fans because it's one of the few that carries both the national channels and the local regional networks like Spectrum SportsNet.
- Fubo: Great for the Wolves' local feed (FDSN), but they famously don't carry TNT or some of the Lakers' local options depending on the month.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for Game Day
Before you start clicking through channels, check the calendar.
If it’s a Tuesday, check NBC.
If it’s a Friday, check Amazon Prime Video.
If it’s a Wednesday, check ESPN.
When in doubt, the NBA App usually lists the specific broadcaster about 24 hours before tip-off. Just remember that "National" doesn't always mean "Cable." With Peacock and Amazon in the mix, you'll want to make sure your apps are updated and your logins are ready before the first whistle.
Next Steps for You:
Check the current date against the official NBA schedule. If the game is tonight, identify if it falls on a "National" night (Tuesday/Friday) to see if you need an app like Prime or Peacock. If you are out of market, verify your League Pass status to ensure you aren't hit with a surprise blackout.