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NBA basketball on TV today: National channels, local networks, live stream and where to watch the game

Editor's pick

Fubo

Fubo offers 3 of the 4 national TV channels required - ESPN, ABC and NBA TV - while carrying an extensive range of RSNs for you to catch local coverage of your favourite team.

Check out our list at the foot of this article.

Watch today with a free 7 day trial.

Monthly from

$79.99

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With more ways than ever before to watch NBA basketball, GOAL brings you everything you need to know on how to watch tonight's games.

Upcoming NBA US TV schedule 2026

Orlando Magic vs Washington Wizards
Indiana Pacers vs Phoenix Suns
Detroit Pistons vs Philadelphia 76ers
Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks
Atlanta Hawks vs Brooklyn Nets
Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks
San Antonio Spurs vs Denver Nuggets
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Boston Celtics
LA Lakers vs Chicago Bulls
Toronto Raptors vs Phoenix Suns
Detroit Pistons vs Memphis Grizzlies
Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks
Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans
Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz
Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves
LA Clippers vs Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets
Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks
San Antonio Spurs vs Charlotte Hornets

How to watch and live stream the NBA in March 2026

Keeping up with the NBA’s biggest stars and high-stakes matchups requires knowing which national networks are handling the broadcast. Throughout the regular season and into the postseason, fans can find marquee doubleheaders and weekend games across a few key channels. For those wanting to catch the flagship "NBA on ESPN" presentations, which often feature the league's most anticipated rivalry games, you can check our guide on how to watch and live stream the ESPN channel. Meanwhile, Tuesday and Thursday nights are synonymous with the iconic studio coverage and doubleheaders on TNT; if you’re looking for a way to tune in without a traditional cable box, our breakdown on how to watch the TNT channel live provides all the best streaming options for cord-cutters.

READ MORE: Watch and live stream NBA Games on ESPN

As we move deeper into the 2025-26 season this March, high-profile weekend matchups often shift to broadcast television for a national audience. If you're looking for the "NBA on ABC" Saturday night games or marquee Sunday afternoon showcases, you can follow our instructions to live stream the ABC channel to ensure you don’t miss any of the action leading up to the playoffs. For basketball purists who want 24/7 coverage, including nightly "Center Court" fixtures and expert studio analysis, our guide on how to live stream the NBA TV channel is an essential resource. Whether you are tracking the race for the top seed or the intense battle for the play-in tournament, these networks provide the comprehensive coverage every fan needs to stay connected to the court.

Key Dates for 2025-26 NBA Season

Here are the key dates for the upcoming season:

  • Oct 31 – Nov 28, 2025: Emirates NBA Cup
  • Nov 1, 2025: NBA Mexico City Game (Detroit Pistons vs Dallas Mavericks)
  • Dec 9 – 10, 2025: NBA Cup Quarterfinals 
  • Dec 13, 2025: NBA Cup Semifinals
  • Dec 16, 2025: NBA Cup Championship
  • Dec 25, 2025: NBA Christmas Day Slate

Mid-Season & All-Star (2026)

  • Jan 15, 2026: NBA Berlin Game (Orland Magic vs Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Jan 18, 2026: NBA London Game (Orlando Magic vs Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Feb 5, 2026: NBA Trade Deadline
  • Feb 13 – 15, 2026: NBA All-Star Weekend 
    • Feb 15 - 75th NBA All-Star Game

Postseason (2026)

  • Apr 12, 2026: Regular Season End
  • Apr 14 – 17, 2026: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
  • Apr 18, 2026: NBA Playoff Start
  • May 5 – 6, 2026: Conference Semi-Final Start (Approx.)
  • May 20, 2026: Conference Final (Approx.)
  • June 4, 2026: NBA Finals Games 1

What TV channels broadcast NBA basketball in the USA?

Keeping up with the NBA’s biggest stars and high-stakes matchups requires knowing which national networks are handling the broadcast. Throughout the regular season and into the postseason, fans can find marquee doubleheaders and weekend games across four primary channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. ESPN is a cornerstone of the league’s coverage, typically hosting high-profile doubleheaders on Wednesday and Friday nights. For a complete breakdown of how to catch these matchups without a traditional cable contract, you can check our guide on how to watch and live stream the ESPN channel.

Equally essential to the basketball calendar is TNT, which serves as the exclusive home for the iconic Inside the NBA studio show and hosts many of the league’s most anticipated Tuesday and Thursday night doubleheaders. If you are a cord-cutter looking for a way to tune in, our instructions on how to live stream the TNT channel provide the best streaming options available. For fans who want 24/7 access to the game - including nightly "Center Court" fixtures, classic games, and expert analysis—our guide on how to live stream the NBA TV channel is an invaluable resource.

Finally, as we move deeper into the 2025-26 season this March, ABC rounds out the national coverage by broadcasting marquee weekend showcases on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Between these four networks and your local Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), you have everything you need to follow the race for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Best online streaming service to watch NBA basketball

Lebron JamesGetty Images

The two best online streaming services to watch NBA basketball are Fubo and DirecTV Stream.

While DirecTV Stream holds the advantage of carrying TNT, which Fubo does not, which is the best choice for you will be determined by which service carries the Regional Sports Network you need to see your local team.

National NBA TV coverage - Fubo vs DirecTV Stream

NetworkFuboDirecTV Stream
ABC
ESPN
NBA TV
TNT

Local NBA TV coverage - Fubo vs DirecTV Stream

TeamChannelFuboDirecTV Stream
Atlanta HawksFanDuel Sports Network Southwest
Boston CelticsNBC Sports Boston
Brooklyn NetsYES Network
Charlotte HornetsFanDuel Sports Network Southeast
Chicago BullsChicago Sports Network
Cleveland CavaliersFanDuel Sports Network Ohio
Dallas MavericksTEGNA
Denver NuggetsAltitude
Detroit PistonsFanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Golden State WarriorsNBC Sports Bay Area
Houston RocketsSpace City Home Network
Indiana PacersFanDuel Sports Network Indiana
Los Angeles ClippersFanDuel Sports Network SoCal
Los Angeles LakersSpectrum SportsNet
Memphis GrizzliesFanDuel Sports Network Southwest
Miami HeatFanDuel Sports Network Sun
Milwaukee BucksFanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin
Minnesota TimberwolvesFanDuel Sports Network North
New Orleans PelicansGulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network
New York KnicksMSG Network
Oklahoma City ThunderFanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma
Orlando MagicFanDuel Sports Network Florida
Philadelphia 76ersNBC Sports Philadelphia
Phoenix SunsArizona Sports Family
Portland Trail BlazersRip City Network
Sacramento KingsKINGS.com
San Antonio SpursFanDuel Sports Network Southwest
Toronto RaptorsSportsNet
Utah JazzKJZZ
Washington WizardsMonumental Sports Network

Frequently asked questions

The NBA in-season tournament, which has now been named the Emirates NBA Cup is set to begin on October 31. Group stage games will take place throughout the rest of the month, before the group stage of the competition comes to a close at the end of November.

The quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup will then take place on December 9 and 10. Three days later, the semifinals will take place on December 13.

The finals of the Emirates NBA Cup will then take place in Las Vegas on December 16.

 

Yes, the NBA will host season international games based in Mexico City on November 1, then in Berlin and London in January of 2026. The Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks will play in Mexico City, while the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies will play each other in Berlin and London, respectively.

  • January 5: NBA teams can begin signing free agents to 10-day contracts starting
  • January 10: All contracts become guaranteed for the remainder of the season on
  • January 21-25: NBA Rivals Week
  • February 6: NBA Trade Deadline (3pm ET)
  • February: 14-19: NBA All-Star break
  • February 14-16: NBA All-Star 2025
  • March 1: Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline
  • April 13: Last day of regular season
  • April 15-18: SoFi Play-In Tournament
  • April 19: NBA Playoffs 2025 begin

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