LA Lakers NBA schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2025-26 campaign firmly in the championship conversation, with Luka Dončić embracing a revitalized leadership role at the heart of the roster.

LeBron James is also back for another run with the 17-time NBA champions, though this season is widely expected to be his final chapter in purple and gold—if not his swan song in the league altogether.

The offseason saw the Lakers’ front office get aggressive in reshaping the squad, addressing one of their biggest weaknesses from last year’s playoff push: frontcourt depth. Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, rookie guard Adou Thiero, and Chris Manon were all brought on board, with Ayton in particular expected to make a significant impact in shoring up the paint.

With Dončić steering the ship, LeBron’s veteran presence, and a reinforced roster, the Lakers look well-positioned to mount a serious title charge this season.

As fans look forward to the new season, it’s important to know how to tune in to the Lakers' games. From preseason action 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 2025-26 season.

LA Lakers 2025-26 regular season TV schedule

How to watch LA Lakers NBA games in local markets

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Spectrum SportsNet serves as the regional sports network for LA Lakers broadcasts and will continue to televise the vast majority of Lakers games (almost 70). Fans can catch every Lakers game not aired on major networks like ABC, NBC or Amazon Prime Video on this channel.

The Lakers are once again set to be one of the NBA's most visible teams under the national spotlight. Altogether, Los Angeles will feature in a staggering 34 nationally televised matchups—thanks in large part to the league's broadened media partnerships. NBC and Peacock, along with Amazon Prime, have joined the mix, while Disney/ABC continues its coverage. TNT, however, is no longer part of the broadcast rotation. 

If you're residing in Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Hawaii, or Southern Nevada, you'll need a provider that includes Spectrum SportsNet to watch Lakers games. Cable providers such as Xfinity, DISH, and DIRECTV offer Spectrum Sportsnet, as do streaming services such as DIRECTV STREAM, which, alongside Fubo, provide more options for catching NBA teams' regional sports networks (RSNs) than other providers (see the table below). If you live outside of the local market, you can catch games with a subscription to NBA League Pass.

For those with cable in the Lakers' viewing area, accessing Spectrum SportsNet is as straightforward as turning on the TV. However, if you’ve opted to cut the cord, there are still plenty of options to enjoy every dunk, rebound, and three-pointer. Soon enough, you’ll find yourself engrossed in watching LeBron James, making it easy to engage in debates about whether he truly surpasses Michael Jordan.

How to watch LA Lakers NBA games With An OTA Antenna

Interested in watching Lakers games for absolutely free? ABC will get a handful of big Lakers matchups later in the NBA season against teams like the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. 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 Lakers games, you can also grab a free trial from a streaming service like DIRECTV STREAM.

How to watch the 2025-26 LA Lakers season without cable

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 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.

This season, U.S. hoops fans can pick from four main types of streaming services. Multi-channel platforms like Fubo, DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV carry both national and regional games. Sling, Peacock (w/o RSN add-on), and Prime Video focus strictly on national broadcasts. Regional DTC platforms such as MSG+ and SNLA+ cater to local markets, while NBA League Pass remains the go-to for out-of-market matchups.

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This season, the NBA is going bigger than ever on the national stage, with 247 games slated across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Amazon, a massive leap from last year’s 172.

The schedule locks in weekly primetime hoops: Mondays on Peacock, Tuesdays on NBC/Peacock, Wednesdays on ESPN, and Fridays on Prime Video. Once midseason rolls around, the menu expands even more — Thursdays on Prime Video, Saturdays split between ABC, ESPN, and Prime Video, and Sundays loaded with matchups on ABC, ESPN, and NBC.

Fans won't have to chase down games either. Every nationally televised contest will be available on major streaming platforms — ESPN App for ABC/ESPN, Peacock for NBCUniversal broadcasts, and Prime Video for Amazon's slate. Hoops every night, everywhere.

This makes multi-channel services like DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo even more appealing, as they offer both regional and national matchups.

How to watch LA Lakers NBA games on DirecTV Stream (Recommended)

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

DIRECTV STREAM boasts the widest range of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), including Spectrum SportsNet, 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 RSN fees, which add approximately $15 per month.

It has 91 channels as part of their service, including sports channels like TBS, USA Network, TNT, 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 Los Angeles Lakers, 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 LA Lakers NBA games on Fubo

• Suggested Plan: Pro
• Price: $84.99 plus RSN fees (varies regionally)
• Free Trial: N/A
• Channels: ABC, NBC, ESPN, NBA TV

Fubo does not offer Spectrum SportsNet, but it does provide plenty of live sports, including Lakers games broadcast on ABC, NBC, and ESPN.

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 $84.99 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, ABC, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and NFL RedZone.

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How to watch Lakers NBA games on Sling TV and Hulu+ (Not ideal)

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You can watch Los Angeles Lakers games on NBC, ESPN2, ESPN, NBA TV, and ESPN3 with Sling Orange's Sports Extra package, which costs $56 per month. However, Sling doesn’t offer Spectrum SportsNet.

Likewise, Hulu + Live TV doesn't include Spectrum SportsNet, but for $82 a month, you’ll have access to a broad range of live sports, TV series, movies, and other entertainment. You’ll also be able to catch Lakers games aired on ABC and ESPN. With perks like unlimited DVR storage and the ability to stream on two devices simultaneously, it’s an ideal option for households with diverse viewing preferences. Plus, Disney+ is bundled into the deal.

However, we don't recommend Hulu Live TV for the NBA. It does not offer NBA TV, and you can’t access most regional sports networks.

Can I watch the Los Angeles Lakers with Peacock?

Lakers fans will be able to catch plenty of action on Peacock this season. The purple and gold are slated for seven broadcasts on NBC/Peacock, with four games streaming exclusively on Peacock's platform.

Peacock has quickly carved out its place as a go-to sports streamer. In addition to its extensive Olympic coverage, it’s already a must for Premier League supporters and WWE followers, while also serving as the digital home of Sunday Night Football and other NBC NFL programming.

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The value proposition isn’t bad either — for under $17 a month (for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus pack), subscribers get far more than just basketball. Starting in October and running through April, Peacock will stream NBA games every Monday night, creating a prime slot for high-profile matchups.

On top of hoops and football, the service has stacked its lineup with Big Ten football, MLB Sunday Leadoff, Notre Dame football and hockey, NASCAR, IndyCar, cycling, golf, rugby, U.S. soccer, track and field, figure skating, horse racing, SuperMotocross, snow sports, IMSA racing, and more.

Sports fans can also tack on Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) to a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription. That add-on unlocks access to 24/7 live channels from NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, and NBC Sports Philadelphia — giving local fans another way to stay plugged in.

How to watch LA Lakers out-of-market NBA games

Watch Los Angeles Lakers Games With A VPN

For those living abroad or just outside of Lakers' TV market, another dependable way to watch Lakers is with 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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