So, you’re looking for the OKC game. I get it. With the way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing lately—basically treating every defender like a traffic cone—you don’t want to miss a second. But NBA broadcasting has become a bit of a labyrinth in 2026. One night it’s on a regional sports network, the next it’s a national exclusive on NBC, and occasionally it just pops up on a streaming service you forgot you subscribed to.
Let’s cut to the chase.
If you are trying to figure out what channel is the thunder game on right now, the answer depends entirely on the calendar. For today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Oklahoma City Thunder actually have the night off. They just wrapped up a tough road battle against the Miami Heat yesterday and are currently traveling to Ohio.
Your next chance to watch them is a massive matinee matchup. Mark your calendar for Monday, January 19, 2026, when the Thunder take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at 2:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. CT). This is a big one. It’s being broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock, though local fans in Oklahoma can also find it on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma.
Finding the Thunder Game: The 2026 Broadcast Landscape
The "where to watch" question has changed a lot this season. Since the NBA's new media rights deal kicked in, we’ve moved past the days when every game was just on cable. Now, the Thunder are one of the most televised teams in the league. They have roughly 39 nationally televised games this year. That’s a testament to the Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren hype train.
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When they aren't on the national stage, you’re looking at local coverage.
Local Coverage on FanDuel Sports Network
For most of the 82-game grind, FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma (formerly Bally Sports) is the primary home for the Thunder. If you live in the OKC metro or surrounding areas, this is your bread and butter.
But wait. There’s a bit of drama here. Recently, there’s been some news about Main Street Sports (the parent company) missing payments to teams. While the Thunder have stated they are "prepared" for any shifts in the media landscape, for right now, the games are still appearing on FanDuel Sports Network. You can get this via:
- Direct-to-consumer subscription on the FanDuel Sports app.
- Traditional cable providers like Cox or DirecTV.
- Streaming bundles like Fubo or DirecTV Stream.
The Griffin Media Simulcasts
Honestly, one of the coolest things the Thunder did this year was continuing the partnership with Griffin Media. For a handful of games, they broadcast for free over-the-air. If you have an old-school antenna, you can sometimes catch the games on KSBI-52 in OKC or KOTV-6 in Tulsa. It doesn't happen every night—usually only about four times a season—but when it does, it's a win for accessibility.
National TV: NBC, ESPN, and the New Players
The 2025-2026 season brought NBC and Peacock back into the NBA fold in a huge way. The "Roundball Rock" theme is back, and the Thunder are frequent guests.
If the game is a "National Exclusive," you might find that the local FanDuel Sports broadcast is blacked out. This happens often on ESPN, ABC, and Amazon Prime Video. Yes, Amazon is a major player now. They have a package of Thursday night games that look and feel a lot like their NFL "Thursday Night Football" production.
How to check tonight's specific channel
Since the schedule shifts, here is the quick checklist to find the channel:
- Check the NBA App: It’s the most accurate source for game-time changes.
- Look for the "A" or "H" tag: On most sports sites, "A" stands for Away and "H" for Home. If you see "NBC" next to the game, it's national.
- Peacock Exclusives: Be careful. There are a few games this year—about four for the Thunder—that are only on Peacock. No cable channel. No local RSN. Just the app.
Why the Channel Sometimes Changes Last Minute
Flex scheduling is a real thing. If the Thunder are scheduled for a low-profile game but both teams are suddenly top-three seeds, the league might "flex" them onto NBA TV or even ESPN.
Conversely, if there’s a major injury—knock on wood that doesn't happen—national networks might drop the game in favor of a different matchup. Usually, you’ll know about these changes 12 to 15 days in advance, but it’s always worth double-checking the morning of the game.
Streaming Options for Out-of-Market Fans
If you don’t live in Oklahoma, "what channel is the thunder game on" has a much simpler answer: NBA League Pass.
This is the holy grail for displaced fans. You get every single game that isn't being shown on national TV in your specific area. If you’re a Thunder fan living in, say, Seattle or New York, League Pass is how you'll see 90% of the season.
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Just remember the blackout rules still apply. If the Thunder are playing the team in your local city (like the Knicks if you're in NYC), the game will be on that local city's sports network, not League Pass.
Actionable Next Steps for Thunder Fans
- Sync the Schedule: Go to the official Thunder website and download the "Add to Calendar" feature. It updates the broadcast channel automatically in your phone's calendar as the league makes changes.
- Download the Apps: Ensure you have the FanDuel Sports app and Peacock installed and logged in before tip-off. There is nothing worse than missing the first quarter because you’re resetting a password.
- Check the Monday Matinee: Since the next game is tomorrow, Monday, Jan 19, at 1:30 p.m. CT, make sure you have NBC or a Peacock subscription ready to go, as it’s a national holiday broadcast.