Checking what time is the knick game shouldn't be a chore, but between the NBA’s flex scheduling and the maze of local vs. national broadcasts, it honestly gets confusing. If you’re looking for the short answer for tonight, January 16, 2026, the Knicks are currently slated for a home stand at Madison Square Garden.
Tip-off is usually at 7:30 PM ET for weeknight home games.
But wait.
If they’re playing a West Coast road trip—think Lakers, Warriors, or the Suns—you’re looking at a 10:00 PM or 10:30 PM start. It’s the classic East Coast struggle. You want to support the team, but you also have to be at work by 8:00 AM.
The schedule matters because the Knicks aren't just a "maybe" team anymore. They are a "must-watch" fixture in the Eastern Conference hierarchy. Ever since the front office stabilized and the roster focused on gritty, high-motor defensive play, every minute of the clock counts. Missing the first quarter because you got the time zone wrong is a rookie mistake.
Why Does the Start Time Keep Shifting?
You've probably noticed that a 7:00 PM start time listed on your calendar doesn't actually mean the ball is in the air at 7:00 PM. That’s the "TV start."
Basically, the NBA builds in a 10 to 15-minute buffer for player introductions, the national anthem, and those final commercial spots. If the game is on TNT or ESPN, expect a longer delay. National broadcasts love their pre-game pomp. If it’s MSG Network, Mike Breen and the crew usually get things moving a bit faster.
National TV flex scheduling is the real culprit for time changes. If the Knicks are playing well (which, lately, they are), networks like ABC might "flex" a game from a 1:00 PM slot to a 3:30 PM or 8:00 PM slot to capture a bigger audience. The league usually announces these changes a few weeks in advance, but it’s easy to miss if you isn't glued to social media.
Then there’s the "In-Season Tournament" factor—now known as the Emirates NBA Cup. During these specific windows in the fall and winter, game times are often staggered to ensure games don't overlap too much for the viewers at home.
Finding the Most Accurate Tip-Off Time
Don't just trust a random screenshot from three days ago.
The most reliable way to verify what time is the knick game is checking the official NBA App or the MSG Network schedule directly. Google’s "OneBox" (that little scoreboard that pops up when you search) is generally 99% accurate, but it sometimes lags if there’s a late-breaking delay due to travel or arena issues.
Weather is rarely a factor since they play indoors, obviously. However, travel delays for the visiting team can occasionally push a start time back by 30 minutes. It happened a few seasons ago when a team got stuck on the tarmac in a snowstorm. Rare? Yes. Possible? Always.
- Standard Home Games: 7:30 PM ET
- Sunday Matinees: 1:00 PM or 3:30 PM ET
- West Coast Road Games: 10:00 PM or 10:30 PM ET
- Central Division Away Games: 8:00 PM ET
The MSG Network vs. National Broadcast Dilemma
Where you watch often dictates when you start watching. If you’re a local fan in the New York tri-state area, you’re likely locked into MSG Network. Their pre-game show usually starts exactly 30 minutes before tip-off.
If the game is a "National Exclusive," it won't be on MSG. This means you’re at the mercy of the TNT or ESPN crew. These games almost always start later than advertised. A "7:00 PM" start on TNT often sees the jump ball happen at 7:12 PM. It’s annoying, but it’s the price we pay for high-def national coverage and those Charles Barkley halftime rants.
League Pass users have it even tougher. If you're out of market, you're subject to blackouts. There is nothing worse than sitting down at the right time only to see a "This content is unavailable in your area" message.
Why the Knicks Schedule is Unique
Madison Square Garden is "The Mecca." Because it’s a premier venue, the NBA loves putting the Knicks in the "Prime Time" slots. This means more 8:00 PM starts on Saturdays and more high-profile Sunday afternoon games than a team like the Charlotte Hornets or the Indiana Pacers might get.
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The Garden also hosts a ton of other events. Concerts, the Rangers, circus acts—you name it. Sometimes the Knicks have to play at weird times (like 12:00 PM on a Monday) because the arena needs to be flipped for a concert that night. Always check the date twice on holiday weekends. MLK Day and Christmas Day are staples for the Knicks, and those times are set months in advance.
Making Sure You Never Miss the Jump Ball
Let's talk about the "Add to Calendar" feature.
Most fans don't realize you can go to the Knicks' official website and download the entire schedule directly into your iCal or Google Calendar. This is the "set it and forget it" method. The best part? These calendars usually auto-update if the NBA flexes the game time.
If you're heading to the arena in person, the "time" of the game is actually an hour earlier than the tip-off. Security at MSG is no joke. If the game starts at 7:30, you really want to be walking through those metal detectors by 6:45. Getting through the Penn Station crowds and up the escalators takes longer than you think, especially on a Friday night.
Honestly, there's something special about being in the seats for the player intros. The lights go down, the music hits, and you realize why people pay way too much for a beer in Midtown. It’s the energy.
Practical Steps for Tonight's Game
If you are planning your night around the Knicks, here is the protocol to ensure you don't miss a second of the action:
- Check the "Last Updated" Time: Look at the NBA's official site or the ESPN app about two hours before the game. This accounts for any weird, last-minute broadcast changes.
- Verify the Channel: Ensure you know if it's on MSG, MSG+, ESPN, TNT, or ABC. If it's a streaming-only game (like on Amazon Prime or YouTube TV), make sure your login is active.
- Account for "The Delay": If you’re a busy person, remember that the actual basketball doesn't start until 10–15 minutes after the listed time. You have a small grace period.
- Sync Your Devices: Use a digital calendar that pulls from an official API. This handles time zone conversions for you automatically if you’re traveling.
- Set a "Pre-Game" Alarm: Set a phone alert for 20 minutes before tip-off. This gives you enough time to find the remote, grab a snack, and settle in before the first possession.
The Knicks are in a window where every game matters for playoff seeding. The Eastern Conference is a gauntlet, and a random Tuesday night game in January can be the difference between a top-four seed and the play-in tournament. Knowing exactly when to tune in ensures you're part of the journey from the first whistle to the final buzzer. Keep your apps updated, watch for the flex schedule announcements, and always give yourself an extra ten minutes to deal with the MSG Network app's inevitable loading screen.