Honestly, trying to keep track of the hoops schedule in 2026 feels like a full-time job. Remember when you just turned on TNT on a Thursday and called it a day? Those days are gone. Between the new NBC/Peacock deal and the messy split of regional networks, if you aren’t checking the exact tip-off times, you're going to miss half the first quarter of the game you actually want to see.
If you’re asking what time is basketball on today, the short answer is: early and late. We have a massive slate for Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Whether you are looking for the NBA's biggest stars or the absolute chaos of a Big 12 conference matchup in college, the schedule is packed.
NBA Schedule for Tuesday, January 13, 2026
The NBA has seven games on the docket tonight. The league is leaning hard into its new broadcast partnerships, so keep an eye on where these are airing. Local blackouts still exist (unfortunately), but the national windows are starting to stabilize.
Early Windows (East Coast Starts)
The action kicks off at 7:30 PM ET with the Phoenix Suns visiting the Miami Heat. This is a weirdly compelling matchup. Phoenix has been riding a three-game win streak, while Miami is struggling to find their identity after dropping three straight. If you're in Miami, it's on FanDuel Sports Network Sun. For the rest of us, check your local listings or League Pass.
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At 8:00 PM ET, the schedule gets crowded. Four games tip off simultaneously:
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Milwaukee Bucks: This is the "Big Man" battle of the night. It starts at 8:00 PM ET at the Fiserv Forum.
- Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans: Nikola Jokic against a Pelicans team that is still trying to figure out their spacing.
- San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder: Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren. This is essentially the "Future of the League" window.
- Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets: A classic mid-tier scrap that usually ends up being high-scoring because, well, neither team loves playing defense right now.
The Late Night Coast
If you’re a night owl or living on the West Coast, the marquee matchups happen late.
At 10:30 PM ET, the Atlanta Hawks take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. This one is huge for the Lakers, who have dropped two in a row and are desperately trying to stay above .500.
The night caps off at 11:00 PM ET with Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors. Interestingly, this game is being carried by NBC/Peacock as part of their Tuesday night national package. Expect a lot of hype around this broadcast—NBC is trying to make "Tuesday Night Basketball" a thing, similar to their old Sunday night football vibes.
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College Basketball’s Massive Tuesday Slate
While the NBA is great, the college schedule today is actually where the real drama is. It’s mid-January. Conference play is in full swing. Every game feels like a bubble-watch nightmare.
The Headliners: Iowa State vs. Kansas
The game everyone is talking about is No. 3 Iowa State at No. 22 Kansas. This tips off at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN. Phog Allen Fieldhouse is going to be vibrating. Iowa State is technically the favorite, but winning in Lawrence is never a "given."
Other Key NCAA Matchups
- Villanova at Providence (6:30 PM ET, FS1): Big East basketball at its grittiest.
- Indiana at Michigan State (6:30 PM ET, Peacock): Yes, you need a login for this one. It's a Peacock exclusive.
- Virginia at Louisville (7:00 PM ET, ESPN2): A classic ACC clash.
- UConn at Seton Hall (8:00 PM ET, truTV): The defending champs are heading into a hostile environment in Newark.
- Florida at Oklahoma (9:00 PM ET, ESPN2): A sneaky good SEC/Big 12 crossover feel.
- Maryland at USC (10:30 PM ET, FS1): The late-night college window for the "Big Ten" (which still feels weird to say about USC).
Why Tracking "What Time is Basketball on Today" has Become So Hard
The 2025-26 season changed everything for viewers. We lost the "Inside the NBA" era on TNT, and in its place, we got a fragmented system.
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NBC and Peacock now own Tuesdays. Amazon Prime owns Thursdays and Fridays. ESPN still holds onto Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you feel like you're constantly searching for what time is basketball on today, it's because the "home base" for hoops doesn't exist anymore. You basically have to be a digital detective.
The Streaming Shift
Peacock has become a major player. Tonight alone, they have the NBA Golden State game and the Indiana/Michigan State college game. If you don't have the app, you're locked out of two of the biggest games of the night. It’s frustrating for fans who grew up on cable, but it's the 2026 reality.
Pro Tips for Watching Tonight
Don't just trust your cable guide. They are notoriously slow to update if a game gets flexed or if a previous program runs long.
- Check the Apps Early: Open Peacock or ESPN+ about 15 minutes before tip-off. Sometimes there's "exclusive" pre-game content that actually tells you if the start time has shifted by five or ten minutes.
- Watch the Time Zones: Most national schedules are listed in Eastern Time. If you're in Denver or LA, do the math before you sit down with your wings.
- Local Blackouts: Even with the new deals, local games (like the Heat or Rockets tonight) might be blocked on national streamers if you live in those cities. You'll need your local regional sports network (RSN) for those.
The landscape is messy, but the basketball is good. Tonight features several MVP candidates (Jokic, SGA, Giannis) and a massive top-25 college showdown. Just make sure you have your logins ready.
Actionable Next Steps for Tonight’s Games
To make sure you don't miss a single bucket, follow this checklist before the first whistle:
- Confirm your Peacock subscription is active if you want to see the Warriors or the Spartans.
- Set a reminder for 8:55 PM ET if you plan on watching the Iowa State/Kansas showdown; the intro at The Phog is worth seeing.
- Double-check your local RSN availability if you are a fan of a home-market team playing tonight, as these are rarely on national TV during the Tuesday window.
- Sync your sports betting or fantasy apps now—the injury reports for the 8:00 PM NBA window usually drop about 30 minutes before tip-off.