You’re sitting there, remote in hand, or maybe just staring at a phone screen that’s too small for your eyes, wondering the same thing everyone else is: what times the game tonight? It's Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you're a sports fan, this is basically your version of a national holiday. We’ve got NFL Divisional Round playoffs heating up, the NBA is in full swing, and the Australian Open just kicked off across the world. It’s a lot. Honestly, keeping track of time zones is a full-time job.
NFL Divisional Round: The Big Ones
Look, we all know why you're really here. It’s the playoffs. The divisional round is often the best weekend of football all year. Better than the Super Bowl? Sometimes.
The early slot today—if you can call 3:00 PM ET "early"—featured the Houston Texans taking on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. If you’re reading this late, you might have missed a slugfest in Foxborough. But the real primetime drama is still on the horizon.
For the nightcap, the Los Angeles Rams are at the Chicago Bears.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM ET. You can catch this one on NBC or stream it on Peacock. If you’re a Spanish speaker, Telemundo and Universo have you covered. It’s going to be cold at Soldier Field. Typical January in Chicago, right? Seeing the Rams' high-flying offense try to navigate that lakefront wind is always a spectacle.
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NBA Sunday Slate
Maybe football isn't your vibe, or you just need something to watch during the halftime lulls. The NBA has a pretty solid schedule today, including some international flair.
The Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies actually tipped off way early today at 12:00 PM ET because they were playing at The O2 Arena in London. If you slept in, you missed the "Global Game" vibe.
For the actual "tonight" part of your query, here is the breakdown:
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- 7:00 PM ET: The Brooklyn Nets are in Chicago to face the Bulls.
- 7:00 PM ET: New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets.
- 8:00 PM ET: Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets (Good luck to Charlotte in that altitude).
- 9:00 PM ET: Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings.
- 9:30 PM ET: Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Lakers.
That Lakers-Raptors game is the one to circle if you’re a late-night viewer. It’s at Crypto.com Arena, and seeing how the Lakers handle the Raptors' length is always a chess match.
NHL and Tennis: The "Other" Big Games
Don't forget the ice. The NHL schedule is a bit of a marathon today. The St. Louis Blues are facing the Edmonton Oilers at 5:00 PM ET, which is basically a must-watch if you like high-scoring hockey.
If you're an Islander or Rangers fan, you’ve got a late night ahead of you. Both New York teams are out West. The Islanders hit the ice against Vancouver and the Rangers take on Anaheim, both at 7:00 PM ET local time (10:00 PM ET for the East Coast folks).
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And then there's the Australian Open.
Because Australia lives in the future, their Monday morning matches are starting tonight for us. The first round is underway at Melbourne Park. If you’re an Alex Eala fan, her main draw debut against Alycia Parks is a huge storyline. Most of these matches will be airing late into the night and early tomorrow morning on ESPN+ and ESPN2.
What Most People Get Wrong About Start Times
The biggest mistake? Forgetting the "buffer."
When a network says what times the game tonight is 6:30 PM, they usually mean the broadcast starts then. The actual toe-meets-leather kickoff for the Bears-Rams game will likely be closer to 6:40 PM. Use those ten minutes to finish the wings or find the "good" remote.
Also, if you are streaming, remember the "Peacock lag." Streams are often 30 to 60 seconds behind the live cable broadcast. If your phone starts buzzing with "TOUCHDOWN" alerts from your fantasy app, put it face down. Don't spoil the moment for yourself.
Actionable Next Steps
- Sync your clocks: If you're on the West Coast, that 6:30 PM NFL kickoff is actually 3:30 PM for you. Don't get caught at the grocery store.
- Check your subs: Ensure your Peacock or ESPN+ logins are actually working before the game starts. There’s nothing worse than a password reset screen during a kickoff.
- Monitor the weather: For that Rams-Bears game, keep an eye on the wind speeds at Soldier Field. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about whether they'll be kicking field goals or going for it on 4th down.
Enjoy the games. It’s a rare night where almost every major sport is offering something high-stakes. Stay warm, grab a snack, and hopefully, your team doesn't break your heart tonight.