Honestly, trying to figure out the nba basketball schedule and channel situation this year feels like trying to guard Victor Wembanyama in the paint. It’s a lot. If you grew up watching the "Inside the NBA" crew on TNT, I’ve got some bad news. That era is basically over. The league’s new media rights deal has completely rearranged the furniture, and if you haven't checked the guide lately, you’re probably going to miss tip-off.
The 2025-26 season is the first year of a massive shift. We’re talking about a world where NBC is back (cue the "Roundball Rock" theme) and Amazon Prime Video is a major player. It’s weird seeing a Thursday night game on the same app where you buy paper towels, but that’s the reality now.
Where Did the Games Go?
The biggest shock for most fans is the disappearance of TNT. For decades, Tuesday and Thursday nights belonged to Charles, Shaq, Kenny, and EJ. Now? Those nights have been split up and sold off like a classic car at an auction.
Here is the basic layout for the national nba basketball schedule and channel rotation:
- Mondays: It’s all about Peacock. This is a streaming-only night for national games, which is a bit of a bummer if your internet is spotty.
- Tuesdays: NBC and Peacock. This is where the big doubleheaders live now.
- Wednesdays: ESPN is the lone survivor of the old guard. They’ve kept their Wednesday night slot, and it still feels like the most "normal" part of the week.
- Thursdays: Amazon Prime Video. Once the NFL season ends, Amazon takes over Thursday nights in a big way.
- Fridays: A mix of ESPN and Amazon. You kind of have to check the app every week because it flips.
- Saturdays: ABC handles the "Saturday Primetime" games, while Amazon often grabs some afternoon slots.
- Sundays: ABC and ESPN do the afternoon "Showcase" games, and then NBC brings back "Sunday Night Basketball" once the NFL finishes up in February.
It’s a lot to keep track of. Basically, you’ve got to be a multi-platform subscriber just to see the Lakers or the Celtics play a national game.
The Return of the Peacock and the Peacock Problem
Let’s talk about NBC for a second. It’s been 23 years since they had the NBA. Seeing Mike Tirico lead the broadcast feels right, but the heavy reliance on Peacock is frustrating for a lot of people. If you’re looking for the nba basketball schedule and channel today, specifically for MLK Day or the big rivalry games in late January, you’ll find them on NBC, but they are almost always simulcast on Peacock.
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In fact, some games are only on Peacock. If you want to watch the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks or the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 19), you better have your login ready.
Upcoming Big Games: Mark Your Calendar
The schedule for the rest of January 2026 is absolutely loaded. We are right in the middle of "Rivals Week," which is the league's attempt to manufacture some drama before the All-Star break.
Monday, Jan. 19 (MLK Day Quadrupleheader)
This is a marathon. It starts early and goes late.
- 1:00 PM ET: Bucks at Hawks (Peacock)
- 2:30 PM ET: Thunder at Cavaliers (NBC/Peacock)
- 5:00 PM ET: Mavericks at Knicks (NBC/Peacock)
- 8:00 PM ET: Celtics at Pistons (NBC/Peacock)
Tuesday, Jan. 20
- 8:00 PM ET: Spurs at Rockets (NBC) — Watching Wembanyama against the Rockets' young core is always a highlight.
- 10:00 PM ET: Lakers at Nuggets (NBC) — A rematch of... well, every playoff series the Lakers have lost lately.
Wednesday, Jan. 21
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- 7:00 PM ET: Cavaliers at Hornets (ESPN)
- 9:30 PM ET: Thunder at Bucks (ESPN)
Saturday, Jan. 24 (ABC Tripleheader)
This is one of the best days on the nba basketball schedule and channel calendar this month.
- 3:00 PM ET: Knicks at 76ers
- 5:30 PM ET: Warriors at Timberwolves
- 8:30 PM ET: Lakers at Mavericks
The Streaming Maze: How to Actually Watch
If you’re a "cord-cutter," you’re actually in a better spot than people with traditional cable this year. But it’s going to cost you. To see every national game, you basically need three things: Amazon Prime, Peacock, and ESPN Unlimited.
ESPN Unlimited is the new direct-to-consumer app that launched last summer. It’s basically everything on ESPN and ABC without needing a cable login. It’s great, but it’s another $15 to $20 a month out of your pocket.
Then there’s the "out-of-market" problem. If you live in Los Angeles but you’re a Chicago Bulls fan, none of these national channels will help you watch the 60+ games that aren't on ABC or NBC. For that, you still need NBA League Pass.
A Quick Hack for Local Fans
If you only care about your local team—say, the Memphis Grizzlies or the Miami Heat—you should look into the FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports). Most of these Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) now offer a standalone subscription for about $20 a month. You don't need a whole YouTubeTV or Fubo package if you literally only watch one team.
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Why the NBA Changed Everything
You might be wondering why the league made it so complicated. Money. Obviously. But it’s also about where the audience is. The NBA knows that younger fans aren't buying cable packages. By moving games to Amazon and Peacock, they are "future-proofing" the league.
The downside is the "fragmentation." You have to open four different apps just to find out who is playing. It’s a mess. Honestly, the best way to keep up with the nba basketball schedule and channel changes is to download the official NBA app and sync it with your calendar. It’ll usually tell you exactly which "button" to press to watch the game.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans think that if a game is on NBC, they can just pull it in with an antenna for free. While that’s true for the Sunday night games starting in February, many of the Monday and Tuesday "NBC Sports" games are actually Peacock exclusives. Don't get caught 10 minutes after tip-off trying to remember your password.
Also, a common misconception is that NBA TV is dead. It’s still around! It usually carries the "lesser" games that ESPN or NBC didn't want. You’ll find a lot of Indiana Pacers or Orlando Magic games there.
Actionable Steps to Stay Ready
- Check the Monday/Tuesday Exclusives: If your team is playing on a Monday or Tuesday, check if it's a Peacock exclusive at least 24 hours in advance.
- Bundle Up: If you already have Amazon Prime for shipping, you're halfway there. Look for bundles that combine Peacock with other services like Instacart or certain phone plans to save a few bucks.
- Sync Your Calendar: Go to the NBA.com schedule page and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. It usually updates the broadcast info in real-time if a game gets flexed into a better time slot.
- Wait for February: If you’re a casual fan, the schedule gets much better in February when the NFL ends. That’s when the "big" games move to Sunday nights on broadcast TV.