Detroit Pistons NBA schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games

Last season, the Pistons finished with the league's worst record (14-68), ranking near the bottom in both offensive efficiency and three-point shooting. To tackle these glaring issues, the new president of basketball operations, Trajan Langdon, made shooting a priority in the offseason, re-signing 6-foot-9 sharpshooter Simone Fontecchio and adding players like Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. via free agency and trades.

With Cade Cunningham now secured on a five-year, $224 million max extension, he will take charge of the team alongside Jaden Ivey, supported by a revamped roster. Additionally, many of the veteran players brought in are on short-term contracts, giving Langdon the flexibility to assess who fits the team's long-term vision without being locked into long commitments.

While the Pistons are expected to be more competitive during the first half of the season, the general expectation is that they may shift their focus toward improving their draft position after the All-Star break.

From regular season to the playoffs, here's a detailed guide to the broadcast options and how to watch, covering streaming services, over-the-air channels, and VPN options for the Pistons' 2025-26 season.

Detroit Pistons' upcoming NBA fixtures

How to watch Detroit Pistons NBA games in local markets

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The Detroit Pistons have officially found a new broadcasting home, sort of. The Bally Sports App has been rebranded as the FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, and the network will continue to produce and air all Pistons games, with the exception of certain matchups designated as national TV exclusives like ABC, ESPN, NBA TV and NBC.

From the consumer's viewpoint, the transition is quite smooth: the channel in your cable package that previously featured Bally Sports Detroit remains the same; it's simply adopted a new name.

FanDuel Sports Network Detroit is accessible in most areas of the state, as well as parts of Northwest Ohio and Northern Indiana. You can catch it through cable providers like Comcast Xfinity (now included in the Ultimate TV package), Spectrum, and WOW! It's also available via satellite on DIRECTV. To find out which cable companies in your area offer the channel, just enter your zip code at this link.

Streaming services such as DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo also offer FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. Both streamers provide more options for catching NBA teams' regional sports networks (RSNs) than other providers (see the table below), alongside the national TV channels. If you live outside of the local market, you can catch games with a subscription to NBA League Pass.

How to watch Detroit Pistons NBA games With An OTA Antenna

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Interested in watching Pistons games for absolutely free? Unfortunately, ABC will not show any of the Pistons' NBA matchups this season, unlike other sides. You can watch ABC for free by installing an over-the-air antenna.

To see which channels you can access, plug your zip code into the FCC’s Reception Map Tool.

The best part? No monthly fees! Once you’ve got the antenna set up, you can enjoy local broadcasts as long as the device keeps going strong.

If you’d rather stream Pistons games, you can also grab a free trial from a streaming service like DIRECTV STREAM.

How to watch the 2025-26 Detroit Pistons season without cable

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Streaming services are rapidly becoming the primary method for fans to watch NBA games, thanks to a growing array of providers in the market.

There is a wide selection of streaming options available, ranging from those that offer specific broadcast packages, such as ESPN+, Fubo and YouTube TV, to more flexible choices like Sling TV and Hulu Live TV, which allow users to customize their channel selection. No cable or satellite TV subscription needed. Start watching with a free trial.

In the United States, basketball fans have access to four types of streaming platforms this season. There are four multi-channel services offering both national and regional games (Fubo, DirecTV, Hulu, YouTube TV), two dedicated solely to national broadcasts (Sling, Prime Video), multiple region-specific platforms (DTC platforms like MSG+, FanDuel+), and one service focused on out-of-market matchups (NBA League Pass). These categories represent the primary options for streaming basketball.

NBA teams provide direct-to-consumer streaming options, which can complement your existing TV provider, but based on our experience, the cost doesn’t justify it. FanDuel+ is priced at $20 a month, MSG+ will set you back $30 per month, while the Pistons Live streaming platform will cost you $14.99 per month. While it might seem like a way to cut expenses, you’ll likely feel frustrated when you're unable to watch nationally broadcast games, which occur at least once a month.

Moreover, not every team offers this streaming option, and if you frequently travel outside your local market, you'll lose access to your team's games altogether. This makes multi-channel services like DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo even better, as they show both regional and national matchups.

How to watch Detroit Pistons NBA games on DirecTV Stream

• Suggested Plan: CHOICE
• Price: $108.99 plus RSN fees (varies regionally)
• Free Trial: (5 Days)
• Channels: FanDuel Sports Network , ABC, ESPN, NBC, NBA TV

DIRECTV STREAM boasts the widest range of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), including FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, compared to other live TV streaming services. To access RSN livestreams, you'll need to subscribe to the DTV Stream Choice package or higher. The package starts with a five-day free trial and is priced at $108.99 per month, not including monthly RSN fees, which you can check here by entering your PIN code.

It has 91 channels as part of its service, including sports channels like TBS, USA Network, NBC, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, and Fox Sports 2.

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With DIRECTV STREAM, you'll still encounter blackouts for out-of-market games. However, you can sidestep these restrictions by adding NBA League Pass to your subscription for as low as $14.99 per month. This combo allows you to catch every NBA game, combining League Pass access with the channels provided by DIRECTV STREAM.

Every DIRECTV STREAM subscriber enjoys unlimited storage on their Cloud DVR, allowing for extensive recording capabilities, and up to 20 users can stream simultaneously.

DIRECTV STREAM is compatible with a variety of devices for watching the Detroit Pistons, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, iPhones/iPads, Android phones/tablets, Mac computers, Windows PCs, and smart TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, Sony, and VIZIO. However, it's worth noting that DIRECTV STREAM is not accessible on gaming consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo.

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How to watch Detroit Pistons NBA games on Fubo

• Recommended Plan: Pro
• Price: $79.99 plus RSN fees ($15)
• Free Trial: Yes (7 Days)
• Channels Included: Fan Duel Sports Network, ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, NBC

To catch Detroit Pistons games, you can tune in via FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC and ABC with their Pro package, priced at $94.99 per month. However, it's important to mention that TNT is not included in this lineup.

Fubo markets itself as a haven for sports enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy international soccer, NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and F1. After a free 7-day trial, subscribers can subscribe to Fubo for as low as $79.99 per month, gaining access to nearly 200 channels, as well as the ability to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously.

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You can also purchase the fuboTV Sports Plus package for an additional $11/mo. The add-on package includes access to NBA TV, which carries around 90 NBA regular-season games, which are subject to local blackout restrictions, as well as analysis shows and documentaries. NBA TV also has live out-of-market games and highlights.

Fubo’s lineup boasts 90 channels, offering a robust mix of sports options such as ESPN, USA Network, FS1, ESPN2, Fox Sports 2, NBC, ABC, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and NFL RedZone.

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How to watch Detroit Pistons NBA games on Hulu+

• Recommended Plan: Hulu+ Live TV
• Price: $82.99
• Free Trial: Yes (3 Days)
• Channels Included: ABC, ESPN, NBC

Hulu + Live TV (plans starting from $77 per month) includes ABC, ESPN, and NBC in every plan. While it excels in offering local channels, it falls short in providing regional sports networks (RSNs). You'll find a limited selection, such as NBC Sports' regional networks in certain areas, but major RSNs like FanDuel Sports Network, Arizona's Family Sports and MSG Network are notably absent from its lineup.

NBA TV is currently not included in Hulu’s channel list, so you will miss a few games that are broadcast on it. Another drawback is the limit of two simultaneous streams, which could be an issue for larger families. However, unlimited DVR storage helps offset that limitation.

There's something for the entire family to enjoy when you’re not watching basketball. It features all ESPN channels, NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, Golf Channel, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, and more. Each plan includes the Disney Bundle with access to ESPN+ and Disney+ content. You can log into ESPN+ with your Hulu credentials as soon as you subscribe.

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How to watch Detroit Pistons NBA games on Sling TV (Not recommended)

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You can watch Detroit Pistons games on NBC, ESPN2, ESPN, NBA TV, and ESPN3 with Sling Orange's Sports Extra package, which costs $51 per month.

The budget-friendly options let you save money while customizing your plans to fit your viewing preferences. Based on your location, you may have access to local channels like ABC, Fox, and NBC. However, if you live in an area where these are available, your monthly cost will rise by $5. For sports enthusiasts, you can enhance the limited selection by adding a Sports Extra package to your subscription.

How to watch Detroit Pistons out-of-market NBA games

If you're looking to catch Detroit Pistons games outside of your local market during the 2025 season, NBA League Pass offers the most comprehensive access. It features all games not blacked out nationally or locally, as well as the channel NBA TV.

For those seeking more features, NBA League Pass Premium includes everything from the standard pass, plus the ability to stream games live and on demand on up to three devices at once. You’ll also get exclusive access to the in-arena feed for any game of your choice.

The current cost for NBA League Pass is $15 per month, while the Premium version is priced at $23 per month. Both subscriptions come with a seven-day free trial.

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Nationally televised games are blacked out for all NBA League Pass subscribers. This applies to matchups aired on ABC, ESPN, NBC, and NBA TV in the U.S., as well as those broadcast on Sportsnet and TSN in Canada.

Due to this limitation, you won’t be able to stream any All-Star Weekend events, the NBA Play-In Tournament, or any NBA playoff games via this service. To watch those, you'll need to find alternative ways to access the channels broadcasting the game you're interested in.

You do get to listen to the local radio broadcasts for all live games through NBA League Pass, so if you are interested in a game that is blacked out to you, you are not completely shut out from following the action live.

Watch Detroit Pistons Games With A VPN

For those living abroad or just outside of Pistons TV market, another dependable way to watch the Pistons in action is via a VPN.

Regardless of whether you use DirecTV Stream, Fubo (formerly FuboTV), or another streaming platform, you can supplement it with a VPN to watch out-of-market games. It enables you to alter your virtual location, letting you access games as though you're in a different state or even abroad (NBA League Pass is the ticket you need if you're overseas).

NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN service in 2025 when streaming live sports. You can even try NordVPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Useful links

• How to watch live sports on DirecTV Stream
• The best streaming services for sports fans in 2025

• Fubo launch half price offer to mark the start of the 2025 NFL season