Look, being a Dubs fan is stressful enough with the fourth-quarter leads we've seen evaporate lately. You shouldn't have to break a sweat just trying to figure out what channel is warriors game on before tip-off.
The reality of 2026 is that the NBA’s media landscape has shifted under our feet. Gone are the days when you could just flip to TNT every Thursday and call it a night. Now, we’re juggling regional networks, a brand-new NBC partnership, and tech giants like Amazon Prime claiming their stake in the Chase Center action.
If you're staring at your remote right now wondering where Steph and the crew are hiding, here is the ground truth.
The Short Answer: Where to Find the Warriors Tonight
For the specific date of Friday, January 16, 2026, the Golden State Warriors are actually in a rare "off-day" gap between two high-intensity matchups. They just finished a grueling battle against the New York Knicks last night (Thursday, Jan 15), which was broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
If you are looking ahead to the very next game, the Warriors face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
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Saturday’s Broadcast Details (Jan 17)
- Local TV: NBC Sports Bay Area (NBCSBA)
- Away Market TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSN-SE)
- Streaming: NBA League Pass (for out-of-market fans)
- Tip-off: 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET
Honestly, if you live in the Bay Area, NBC Sports Bay Area remains your best friend. It’s the home for about 70% of the regular season. But if the game is "National," things get weird.
Decoding the 2025-26 NBA TV Map
The NBA entered a massive new broadcast era this season. You've probably noticed that things look a little different on your guide. The big change? NBC is back in a huge way, and Amazon has officially replaced the traditional "Thursday Night on TNT" slot for many games.
Basically, your search for what channel is warriors game will usually lead you to one of these four places:
- NBC Sports Bay Area: Your regional powerhouse. If it’s not on a big national network, it’s here. Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike are still the voices of the Dubs for these local broadcasts.
- NBC and Peacock: NBC has the "Sunday Night Basketball" rights and many marquee Tuesday slots. If the Warriors are playing a contender like the Lakers or Celtics, check your local NBC affiliate or fire up the Peacock app.
- Amazon Prime Video: Amazon is now the exclusive home for many Thursday night games and the NBA Cup (the mid-season tournament). If it’s Thursday, don't even bother with cable; go straight to the Prime app.
- ESPN/ABC: They still hold the rights to the "big" Saturday night games and the NBA Finals.
Why Can’t I Find the Game? (The Blackout Problem)
This is the most annoying part of being a fan. You pay for NBA League Pass, you're ready to watch, and suddenly you see that "This game is restricted in your area" message.
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Here is why that happens. If a game is being shown on NBC Sports Bay Area and you live in San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose, League Pass is legally obligated to "black out" the stream to protect the local broadcaster's ratings.
In 2026, the workaround is usually a streaming service that carries Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). Currently, FuboTV and DirecTV Stream are the only major "cable-cutters" that consistently carry NBC Sports Bay Area. If you have YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you might get the national NBC games, but you’ll often be left in the dark for the local ones.
The Best Ways to Stream the Warriors Without Cable
If you've cut the cord, you have to be tactical. You can’t just buy one app and see every bucket.
- Peacock: This is actually a sneaky good value now. Since NBC took over a large chunk of the NBA rights, many Warriors games are simulcast on Peacock. It's cheaper than a full cable replacement.
- Amazon Prime: You likely already have this for the shipping, but it's now mandatory for the Thursday night schedule.
- NBA League Pass: Perfect if you live in New York or Chicago and want to watch the Dubs. It is terrible if you live in the Bay Area because of the aforementioned blackouts.
- Local Antenna: For games on ABC or the main NBC channel, a $20 digital antenna from any big-box store will get you the game in crisp 4K for free. No subscription required.
Upcoming Warriors Schedule and Channels
To help you plan your week, here is where the next few games are landing. The schedule makers have been busy, so keep an eye on these specific outlets:
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- Monday, Jan 19 vs. Miami Heat: NBC Sports Bay Area (Local) / NBA TV (National).
- Tuesday, Jan 20 vs. Toronto Raptors: NBC Sports Bay Area / NBC / Peacock. (This is a double-header night for NBC).
- Thursday, Jan 22 @ Dallas Mavericks: Amazon Prime Video.
- Saturday, Jan 24 @ Minnesota Timberwolves: ABC (The premier Saturday night window).
What Most People Get Wrong About "National" Games
A common misconception is that if a game is on "National TV," it’s only on that one channel. That’s not always true.
Often, a game will be on NBA TV, but it will also be on NBC Sports Bay Area. In that case, the local channel usually has the better pre-game and post-game coverage with analysts like Festus Ezeli or Bonta Hill. If the game is on ABC or Amazon Prime, however, those are usually "exclusive," meaning the local Bay Area channel won't show it at all.
It’s a bit of a maze, but once you realize the pattern—Local = NBCSBA, Thursday = Amazon, Big Weekends = ABC—it gets easier to navigate.
Actionable Steps for the Next Tip-Off
Instead of scrolling through hundreds of channels five minutes after the game starts, do this:
- Download the Warriors App: It’s actually surprisingly accurate. It syncs with your local GPS to tell you exactly which channel is carrying the game in your specific zip code.
- Check Peacock Early: Since the NBC deal is still relatively new, people often forget that Peacock carries the NBC games. If you see a game listed on "NBC," your Peacock login will almost always work.
- Audit Your Streaming Service: If you're paying $80+ for a service like YouTube TV and can't see the local games, it might be time to switch to DirecTV Stream or Fubo specifically for basketball season.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a wild ride for the Warriors. Between the emergence of the younger bench and Steph's late-career brilliance, you don't want to miss a single "Skyfucker" moment just because of a technicality. Grab your remote, check the schedule for tomorrow's Hornets game, and get the right app ready.