Honestly, trying to figure out where to watch Detroit Pistons vs Denver Nuggets shouldn't feel like a high-stakes math equation. But here we are. Between the massive 2025-26 media rights shakeup and the way local blackouts are currently working, you can’t just flip to a channel and hope for the best anymore.
The Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets are set to clash twice this winter: first on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, and again shortly after on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena.
If you're sitting in a sports bar in LoDo or a basement in Royal Oak, your options are wildly different. Let's break down the actual logistics of getting this game on your screen without the "signal not found" headache.
The Regional Sports Network Maze (RSN)
The most important thing to know is that these games are primarily controlled by local networks. If you live in the home market of either team, national streaming services like Hulu (without Live TV) or standard Peacock tiers won't help you much.
For the Denver crowd, the game airs on Altitude Sports. This has been a saga for years, but in 2026, Altitude is also broadcasting about 20 games over-the-air (OTA) for free via 9NEWS (KUSA) or My20 (KTVD). If you have a decent digital antenna, you might actually be able to pick this up for $0. Just make sure your antenna handles VHF signals if you're trying to snag it on Channel 9.
Detroit fans, you're looking for FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (formerly Bally Sports). Most Pistons games live here. If you’ve ditched cable, you basically have two choices: Fubo or the standalone FanDuel Sports Network app. It’s pricey, but it’s the only legal way to see the local feed without a traditional 2-year contract.
Where to watch Detroit Pistons vs Denver Nuggets if you're out-of-market
If you live in, say, Florida or New York, things actually get easier. You aren't "in-market," so you aren't blocked by local exclusive rights.
NBA League Pass is the gold standard here. It carries every game that isn't being shown on "National TV." Since the Jan 27 and Feb 3 matchups aren't currently slated for a massive ABC or ESPN exclusive window, League Pass is your best friend.
- Sling TV: You can add NBA League Pass as an extra.
- YouTube TV: Offers a seamless League Pass integration.
- The NBA App: Direct subscription works on your phone, tablet, or Roku.
Just a heads up: if you’re in Denver or Detroit, League Pass will black you out. It uses your IP address and sometimes your phone’s GPS to make sure you aren’t bypassing the local RSN. It's annoying. We all know it.
The 2026 Media Rights Factor: Peacock and Amazon
The NBA’s new 11-year deal with NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video has changed the Tuesday night landscape. While these specific Pistons-Nuggets games aren't currently "Peacock Exclusives," many Tuesday games are now part of NBC’s regional primetime or Peacock’s Monday/Tuesday streaming blocks.
Always check your Peacock app 24 hours before tip-off. If a game gets "flexed" into a national spot because of a sudden winning streak or a Jokic triple-double chase, the local RSN might lose exclusivity.
Why your "Free Stream" site is a bad idea
Look, we've all seen the sketchy links. But in 2026, the latency on those sites is brutal. You’ll see a "JOKIC FOR THREE" tweet 90 seconds before the ball even leaves his hand on your laptop. Plus, the risk of malware on those "buffstream" clones is higher than ever. It's just not worth the hassle when you can usually find a free trial for Fubo or YouTube TV to cover a single game night.
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Viewing Options at a Glance
For the January 27 game in Denver (9:00 PM EST):
- Local Denver: Altitude Sports, KTVD (My20)
- Local Detroit: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
- Out-of-Market: NBA League Pass
For the February 3 game in Detroit (7:00 PM EST):
- Local Detroit: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
- Local Denver: Altitude Sports
- Out-of-Market: NBA League Pass
Radio and Audio Alternatives
Sometimes you're stuck in the car or just don't want to pay for another subscription.
In Detroit, 97.1 The Ticket is the flagship. They have a massive reach across Michigan. In Denver, you're looking for Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM. If you have the NBA App, you can often listen to the radio broadcasts for a much lower monthly fee ($9.99/year usually) than the video feed. It’s a great "poor man’s League Pass" that doesn't have the same strict blackout rules for audio.
Practical Steps to Get Ready for Tip-off
Don't wait until 7:05 PM to start your trial or download an app. These platforms love to crash right at game time.
- Check your Zip Code: Go to the NBA League Pass website and put in your zip. It will tell you exactly which teams are blacked out for you.
- Update the App: If you’re using a Smart TV or a Fire Stick, update the FanDuel Sports or NBA app now. The 2026 versions have a lot of "interactive" features that require a fresh install.
- Verify your NBC/Peacock login: If the game is part of the NBC Tuesday regional package, you'll need your cable provider login or an active Peacock Premium sub.
If you find yourself blacked out on everything, your last resort is a local sports bar. Most commercial DirecTV packages for bars have special "Business League Pass" access that bypasses some of the consumer-level headaches. Plus, wings are always a plus.
To ensure you don't miss the start of the game, verify your local listings on the NBA.com schedule page on the morning of the game, as TV times can occasionally shift by 30 minutes to accommodate national windows.