So, you’re looking for the game. It’s a common struggle lately because the NBA’s media landscape basically shifted under our feet this season. If you’re trying to figure out what channel are the thunder playing on, the answer depends heavily on which day of the week it is and exactly where you're sitting.
For the Sunday, January 18, 2026 slate, the Oklahoma City Thunder actually have a rare day off. They just finished a grueling back-to-back that ended with a heartbreaker in Miami last night. However, if you are looking ahead to the massive MLK Day matchup or just trying to navigate the new "triple-threat" of TV deals, here is the breakdown of how to find them.
The Big Monday Matchup: Thunder at Cavaliers
The next time the balls tips is Monday, January 19, 2026, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is a marquee game. Because it’s a holiday, the league has scheduled this one for a 2:30 p.m. EST start.
If you are wondering what channel are the thunder playing on for this specific showdown, it is a national broadcast on NBC. Yes, NBC is back in the NBA business this year. This means you can catch the game on your local NBC affiliate (like KFOR in Oklahoma City) or stream it live via Peacock.
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Where to Find Most Regular Season Games
When they aren't on big national stages like NBC or ABC, the Thunder usually live on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma (formerly known as Bally Sports).
Honestly, the regional sports network (RSN) situation has been a bit of a mess. There was a lot of talk earlier this month about missed payments to teams, but for now, the lights are still on. Most fans in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets will find about 65 of the 82 games here.
- Local Cable/Satellite: Usually found on Cox, DirecTV, or some smaller providers.
- The Streaming Route: If you’ve cut the cord, Fubo is basically the only major "cable-replacement" service that carries FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma.
- The App: You can subscribe directly to the FanDuel Sports Network app for a monthly fee, which is great if you don't want a whole $90 cable package.
The Griffin Media Simulcast
A cool thing the Thunder did this year was keep their partnership with Griffin Media. They have a handful of games (usually on Fridays or Saturdays) that air on KWTV-9 in OKC and KOTV-6 in Tulsa. It's only four games this season, but it's a nice win for people who still use an antenna.
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National TV is the New Normal for OKC
Because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren have turned this team into a legitimate title contender, the national media is obsessed with them. They have 34 national games this season. That is wild compared to where they were three years ago.
You’ve gotta keep a few different apps on your phone to keep up. Amazon Prime Video now has a "Friday Night NBA" package that features the Thunder quite a bit. Then you have the usual suspects: ESPN for Wednesday nights and ABC for those big Saturday night showcases that start after the NFL season wraps up.
- NBC/Peacock: These are usually the Monday and Sunday night games.
- ESPN/ABC: The traditional home for mid-week and weekend showcases.
- Amazon Prime: Usually the exclusive home for Friday night games.
- NBA TV: Used for those "secondary" national games that aren't exclusive.
Watching if You Live Outside of Oklahoma
If you’re a Thunder fan living in, say, Seattle or New York, things are actually much simpler. NBA League Pass is your best friend.
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This year, League Pass is integrated much more deeply into Amazon Prime Video. You can subscribe directly through Prime, which makes the interface a lot smoother than the clunky standalone NBA app. Just remember: if the Thunder are playing a team in your local market (like if you live in Dallas and they play the Mavs), the game will be blacked out on League Pass and you'll have to watch it on your local RSN.
Looking at the Upcoming Schedule
To save you some Googling later this week, here is the immediate broadcast schedule for the rest of January 2026:
- Monday, Jan 19 @ Cleveland: 2:30 PM on NBC/Peacock.
- Wednesday, Jan 21 @ Milwaukee: 9:30 PM on ESPN.
- Friday, Jan 23 vs Indiana: 8:00 PM on Amazon Prime Video (National) and FanDuel Sports Network OK.
- Sunday, Jan 25 vs Toronto: 7:00 PM on FanDuel Sports Network OK.
The Thunder are currently sitting at 35-8, which is good for first in the Western Conference. Every game feels big right now, especially as they chase that #1 seed to ensure home-court advantage through the playoffs.
If you're ever in doubt, just check the Thunder App. They are usually pretty good about updating the "How to Watch" section about two hours before tip-off. Keep an eye on the FanDuel Sports Network situation, though. If those bankruptcy rumors heat up again, the games might migrate over to a different streaming platform mid-season.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Check your local listings for NBC if you plan on watching the MLK Day game tomorrow.
- If you're a cord-cutter, verify that your Fubo or FanDuel Sports Network subscription is active before the Milwaukee game on Wednesday.
- Download the Peacock app and ensure your login works, as the NBC games are frequently simulcast there for better 4K quality.