It happens every single Tuesday. You're settled in, maybe you've got the takeout ordered, and you realize you have no clue where the game is actually airing. Between the endless regional sports networks and the three different streaming apps you supposedly pay for, finding out what channel is the game on tonight has become a part-time job.
Tonight, January 13, 2026, is particularly messy because we are right in the thick of the winter sports crunch. We've got massive Top 25 college hoops, a heavy NHL slate on national TV, and some NBA matchups that actually matter for the playoff seeding.
If you're looking for the NFL, take a breath. The Wild Card round just wrapped up with the Texans handling the Steelers yesterday. The Divisional Round doesn't kick off until Saturday, so tonight is all about the hardwood and the ice.
NBA on TV Tonight: Wemby and the Warriors
The NBA schedule tonight is a bit of a split personality situation. If you’re looking for the big national broadcast, you’re heading to NBC and Peacock.
The headliner is San Antonio at Oklahoma City at 8:00 PM ET. Honestly, watching Victor Wembanyama against Chet Holmgren is basically a glimpse into the next decade of the league. NBC is carrying this as regional coverage, but it’s the primary game on Peacock.
Later on, at 11:00 PM ET, the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Golden State Warriors. Again, this is an NBC/Peacock production. If you’re on the West Coast, check your local NBC Sports affiliate (like NBC Sports Bay Area). For the rest of us, the Peacock app is the easiest way to avoid the "channel not found" frustration.
There are a bunch of other games—like the Hawks at Lakers (10:30 PM ET) and Bucks at Timberwolves (8:00 PM ET)—but those are primarily on League Pass or regional networks like FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally). If you aren't in those local markets, those are the ones you'll struggle to find on standard cable.
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The NHL Doubleheader on TNT
Hockey fans actually have it the easiest tonight. TNT and truTV are handling the heavy lifting with a solid national doubleheader.
- Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins (7:30 PM ET): This is a classic Original Six matchup. It’s on TNT, but if you’re a cord-cutter, you can stream it via Max (formerly HBO Max).
- Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks (10:00 PM ET): This one follows right after on TNT and truTV.
The NHL is leaning hard into the "TNT Tuesday" branding, so if you have that channel, you're set for the night. Just keep in mind that local blackouts still apply for some regional broadcasts, like the Penguins game on SportsNet Pittsburgh or the Capitals on MNMT.
College Basketball: A Massive Night for the Big 12 and Big Ten
This is where the what channel is the game on tonight question gets truly chaotic. College basketball is scattered across about six different networks tonight.
The "Game of the Night" is easily No. 2 Iowa State at Kansas at 9:00 PM ET. That is a straight ESPN broadcast. No ESPN2, no ESPNU—just the flagship station. Allen Fieldhouse is going to be rocking, and this game could decide the early lead in the Big 12.
If you're a Big Ten fan, your night is split between the Big Ten Network (BTN) and Peacock. Wisconsin at Minnesota is on BTN at 7:00 PM, while Indiana at Michigan State (8:00 PM) is a Peacock exclusive. This is the part of modern sports watching that everyone hates—having to switch from a cable box to a smart TV app just to see a conference rivalry.
Other notable channels for tonight:
- Villanova at Providence: 6:30 PM on FS1.
- UConn at Seton Hall: 8:00 PM on truTV.
- Maryland at USC: 10:30 PM on FS1.
- Boise State at UNLV: 11:00 PM on CBS Sports Network.
Why Finding the Channel is So Complicated Now
You've probably noticed that games aren't just on "ESPN" or "Your Local Channel 4" anymore. We are in the era of fragmented rights.
NBC and Peacock took a huge bite out of the NBA rights this season. That’s why you’re seeing the Spurs and Warriors on a Tuesday night on a network that used to be for Sunday Night Football. Meanwhile, the NHL has carved out a home on TNT, and college conferences are selling their souls to whichever streaming service bids the highest.
It’s frustrating. You've basically got to have a spreadsheet just to watch a Tuesday night game.
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Actionable Tips for Tonight’s Viewers
If you want to avoid missing tip-off or puck drop, do these three things right now:
- Check Peacock and Max: Since those are the two big "alternative" spots for the NBA and NHL tonight, make sure your logins actually work before 8:00 PM rolls around.
- Sync Your Calendar: Most team sites (like the Detroit Red Wings or Kansas Jayhawks) offer a "sync to calendar" feature. It usually includes the broadcast info in the calendar invite so you don't have to Google it every time.
- Regional App Check: If you're trying to watch the Hawks or the Bucks, make sure you have the FanDuel Sports Network app updated. Those regional networks have been rebranding and changing apps frequently over the last year.
Tonight's sports schedule is deep, but as long as you know whether you're looking for the Big 12 on ESPN or the NHL on TNT, you're ahead of the game. Get the remote ready, because from 7:00 PM to midnight, there isn't a single minute without live action.
To make sure you're ready for the rest of the week, take five minutes to verify which of your streaming subscriptions include "Live TV" versus just "On-Demand" content, as that’s usually where the Tuesday night blackout surprises happen.