If you're hunting for where to watch Dallas Mavericks vs Celtics, you’ve probably realized that the old ways of just flipping to TNT are dead. Honestly, the NBA's new media rights deal has turned finding a simple basketball game into a bit of a scavenger hunt. It’s annoying. You just want to see Luka Dončić go head-to-head against Jayson Tatum without needing a PhD in streaming subscriptions.
The good news? I’ve done the digging.
Whether you’re a Mavs fan in Deep Ellum or a Celtics die-hard in Southie, the broadcast landscape for their 2026 matchups is completely different than it was even two years ago. We’re talking about a mix of legacy networks, local regional sports networks (RSNs), and the new heavy hitters like Amazon Prime and Peacock.
The Big Matchups: When and Where
The NBA schedule for the 2025-2026 season has these two juggernauts meeting twice in the regular season. Mark your calendars, because these aren't just "any" games—they’re potential Finals previews.
- Tuesday, February 3, 2026: The Celtics travel to the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM ET.
- Friday, March 6, 2026: The Mavericks head up to TD Garden in Boston for a 7:00 PM ET start.
For that February 3rd game in Dallas, you’ve got a few options. It’s a "Tuesday night" game, which in 2026 means NBC and Peacock are the primary national broadcasters. The March 6th game in Boston is a Friday night special, meaning it will likely be carried by ESPN or Amazon Prime Video, depending on the final flexible scheduling.
Watching if You’re in Dallas (The Local Loop)
If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, things got a little easier recently. The Mavs moved away from the old Bally Sports model. Now, most local games air on KFAA (Channel 29) and WFAA (Channel 8). It’s kind of great because you can actually use an over-the-air antenna to get these for free.
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For streaming, the team launched MavsTV. This is their direct-to-consumer service. If you’re in-market (basically North Texas, parts of Oklahoma, and Louisiana), you can subscribe to MavsTV through the NBA App or a dedicated website. It’s the most reliable way to ensure you don’t get hit by those "blackout" messages that everyone hates.
The Boston Perspective: NBC Sports Boston
In New England, NBC Sports Boston is still the king of Celtics coverage. Almost every game that isn't an exclusive national broadcast (like an ABC Sunday game) will be on this channel.
If you’ve cut the cord, you can find NBC Sports Boston on:
- Fubo (the most sports-heavy streaming service right now).
- Hulu + Live TV.
- YouTube TV.
DirectTV Stream also carries it, but honestly, it’s one of the pricier ways to go about it.
The "New" National Players: Peacock and Prime
The biggest shift for the 2025-26 season is the return of the NBA to NBC and the massive presence of Amazon Prime Video.
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For the Mavericks vs. Celtics game on February 3, Peacock is going to be your best friend (or your worst enemy if you hate extra apps). NBC’s streaming service now has exclusive rights to many Tuesday and Monday night games. You can’t just watch these on your local NBC affiliate sometimes—you actually need the Peacock Premium subscription.
Amazon Prime Video has also taken over the "Thursday/Friday" slot that TNT used to dominate. If the March game ends up as a Prime exclusive, you’ll need an active Amazon Prime membership to see it.
Out-of-Market Fans: NBA League Pass
If you live in, say, Chicago or Los Angeles and want to watch the Mavs take on the Celtics, NBA League Pass is still the gold standard.
But there’s a catch.
If the game is being broadcast on ABC, ESPN, NBC, or Prime Video, it will be blacked out on League Pass in the United States. You’d have to wait until the game is over to watch the replay. Since Mavs vs. Celtics is a "premium" matchup, it’s almost always nationally televised. Basically, if you’re out-of-market, check the national TV schedule first before assuming League Pass will work.
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How to Watch for Free (Legally)
You don't always have to pay. Here’s how to catch the game without a monthly bill:
- Over-the-Air Antenna: If the game is on ABC or NBC (or local Dallas channels like WFAA), a simple $20 digital antenna from Amazon or Best Buy will pick up the signal in HD for free.
- Free Trials: Services like Fubo and YouTube TV usually offer 7-day free trials. If you only care about this one specific game, you can sign up, watch the Mavs and Celtics go at it, and cancel before the bill hits. Just remember to actually cancel it.
- Sports Bars: It sounds old school, but any decent sports bar will have the game on. It’s cheaper than a $80/month cable bill, plus you get wings.
Why This Specific Matchup is Harder to Find
Google searches for "where to watch Dallas Mavericks vs Celtics" spike because these teams are popular. When teams are popular, networks fight over them.
This means the game might be moved from a "local" broadcast to a "national" one at the last minute. This is called "flex scheduling." If the Mavs are on a 10-game winning streak in March, ESPN might decide to "flex" their game into the primetime slot, even if it wasn't originally planned that way. Always check the official NBA.com schedule about 48 hours before tip-off to see if the network has changed.
Actionable Next Steps to Get Ready
To make sure you aren't staring at a "This content is not available in your area" screen five minutes after tip-off, do this:
- Identify your location: Are you "in-market" for Dallas or Boston? If yes, check KFAA (Dallas) or NBC Sports Boston.
- Check the Date: If it’s the February 3rd game, make sure your Peacock login is working.
- Download the NBA App: Even if you don’t pay for League Pass, the app is the fastest way to see which specific channel has the rights to the game in your exact zip code.
- Test your Antenna: if you're using one for an ABC or NBC broadcast, scan for channels the day before. Signal strength can be finicky depending on the weather.
Watching Luka and Tatum should be the fun part—don't let the logistics ruin the game.
Fact Check: Broadcast schedules for the 2025-2026 NBA season are subject to change by the league's broadcast partners. Local RSN availability depends on your specific television provider and zip code. National broadcasts on NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video are part of the new NBA media rights agreement effective for this season.