If you're frantically scrolling through your guide or clicking around your streaming apps trying to figure out what channel are the nba games on tonight, you aren't alone. The 2025-26 season has introduced some big shifts in how we watch basketball. Gone are the days when you could just park it on one cable network and see every major game. Between the new NBC/Peacock "Coast 2 Coast Tuesday" deal and the standard regional sports networks, it’s a bit of a maze.
Tonight, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the schedule is actually pretty stacked. We’ve got seven games total, featuring some of the league's biggest young stars and a few veteran squads trying to claw their way back into the playoff hunt.
The Big National Doubleheader: NBA on NBC and Peacock
The biggest news for tonight's national broadcast is the return of the NBA on NBC. It’s a nostalgic vibe for some of us, but the delivery is modern. NBC and Peacock have the rights to a weekly Tuesday night doubleheader they call "Coast 2 Coast Tuesday."
Basically, they split the country up or offer it all on streaming.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Channel: NBC / Peacock
- Why it matters: This is the game everyone is circling. Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren. It’s the fourth time these two have met this season, and honestly, OKC has had San Antonio's number so far, winning all three previous matchups. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is also putting up numbers that make him a legitimate MVP frontrunner again.
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors
- Time: 11:00 PM ET (8:00 PM PT)
- Channel: NBC / Peacock
- Why it matters: This is the "Coast" part of the doubleheader. If you're on the West Coast, your local NBC affiliate will likely switch over to this one as the primary game. Steph Curry is still doing Steph Curry things, and even if the Blazers are rebuilding, they’ve been surprisingly scrappy lately.
What Channel Are The NBA Games On Tonight? (The Full Schedule)
If your team isn't on the NBC doubleheader, you’re likely looking at a Regional Sports Network (RSN) or NBA League Pass. Here is how the rest of the slate breaks down for tonight:
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Phoenix Suns at Miami Heat
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Channel: AZFamily / Suns+ (Phoenix) and FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Miami)
- The Vibe: This is a clash of styles. The Heat are gritting out wins, while the Suns are leaning heavily on their high-octane offense.
Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Channel: Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Space City Home Network (SCHN)
- The Vibe: Houston has become a powerhouse in the West. If you're out of market, you'll need League Pass to catch this one.
Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Channel: Altitude Sports (Denver) and Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment / Pelicans+ (New Orleans)
- The Vibe: Nikola Jokic is always worth the price of admission. The Pelicans are desperately trying to stay healthy, which is always the story with them.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Milwaukee Bucks
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- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Channel: FanDuel Sports Network North (Minnesota) and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
- The Vibe: This is a heavy-hitter matchup that somehow didn't get a national TV slot tonight. It's essentially "The Giannis vs. Anthony Edwards Show."
Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers
- Time: 10:30 PM ET
- Channel: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Atlanta) and SportsNet LA (Lakers)
- The Vibe: This one is fascinating because of the Lakers' lineup changes. Luka Doncic and LeBron James are a duo that feels like it shouldn't exist, but here we are. Jalen Johnson has been having a breakout year for Atlanta, so don't sleep on the Hawks' ability to keep it close.
Why Finding These Games is Kinda Complicated
Look, I get it. It’s annoying. You used to just turn on TNT for Tuesday games. But the landscape changed. Currently, NBC and Peacock are the primary homes for Tuesday night national games.
If you’re wondering what channel are the nba games on tonight and you don't see them on NBC or Peacock, you are almost certainly looking at a local broadcast. If you live in Los Angeles, you’re watching the Lakers on SportsNet LA. If you’re in Atlanta, it’s FDSSE.
If you live in New York and want to watch the Lakers vs. Hawks, you’re going to need NBA League Pass. It’s the only way to bypass the "blackout" rules for out-of-market games.
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Streaming Options and Alternatives
If you’ve cut the cord, you have a few ways to watch.
- Peacock: Since they have the national doubleheader tonight (Spurs/Thunder and Blazers/Warriors), a basic Peacock subscription gets you those games live.
- FuboTV / YouTube TV: These services carry your local NBC station, which will have the national games, and they often carry the regional sports networks (like FanDuel Sports Network) depending on your zip code.
- NBA League Pass: This is the gold standard for junkies. You get every game that isn't on national TV or in your local market.
Things to Keep an Eye On
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Lakers. With a five-game week—the first of its kind this season—they might be managing minutes. Also, the Spurs are trying to snap a six-season playoff drought, which is wild to think about for a franchise that used to win 50 games in its sleep.
The Thunder are currently sitting at the top of the league alongside Detroit (yeah, you read that right), so watching how they handle the pressure of being the "hunted" team is the main storyline for the night.
Actionable Tips for Tonight’s Viewers
- Check the App First: If you aren't sure if your cable package includes a specific channel, open the NBA app. It usually detects your location and tells you exactly which provider is carrying the game in your area.
- Verify the Time Zone: The NBA loves its 8:00 PM ET starts, but if you're out West, that’s 5:00 PM. Don't get caught stuck in traffic while the Wemby/Chet tip-off is happening.
- Sync Your Peacock Account: If you’re planning on watching the national games on Peacock, make sure you're logged in 10 minutes early. There’s nothing worse than a forced password reset when a game is starting.
- Check Local Listings for NBC: Remember that the "Coast 2 Coast" format means your local NBC station might choose the game more relevant to your region, though both are usually available on the Peacock app nationwide.