When does the 2026-27 NBA season begin?
The NBA season begins on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 [2]. The opening night features three games broadcast on NBC and Peacock, including a matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons [2][3].
What happened
- Oct 14, 2026
NBC Sports releases the broadcast assignments for the first two weeks of the season [2]
- Oct 20, 2026
The regular season officially starts with a tripleheader of games [2]
- Nov 2, 2026
Doc Rivers is scheduled to make his studio debut on NBA Showtime [1][2]
What you need to know
The first game on opening night is the Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET [2].
The New York Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. ET [2].
The opening night concludes with the Oklahoma City Thunder facing the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET [2].
Games will be available to watch on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN [2].
It is not confirmed how frequently Doc Rivers will appear on the NBA Showtime studio desk after his November 2 debut [1].
Background
NBC Sports is entering its second year of NBA coverage after a 23-year hiatus [1]. The network has assembled a broadcast team that includes play-by-play announcers like Mike Tirico and various game and studio analysts [2].
Doc Rivers has joined NBC as a game analyst after retiring from coaching [1]. He was previously fired by the Milwaukee Bucks following last season [1].
Questions people ask
Which teams play on opening night?
The Celtics play the Pistons, the 76ers play the Knicks, and the Thunder play the Spurs [2].
Where can I watch the NBA season opener?
Opening night games will air on NBC and Peacock [2].
Where this came from
[1] sports.yahoo.com
Doc Rivers to make NBC studio debut next month
Preview image from sports.yahoo.com
[2] nbcsports.com
NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES COMMENTATOR ASSIGNMENTS FOR FIRST TWO WEEKS OF NBA COVERAGE ON NBC, PEACOCK, AND NBCSN
Preview image from nbcsports.com
[3] northjersey.com
When does NBA season start? How to watch Opening Night tripleheader
Preview image from northjersey.com
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.