The 2026–27 NBA season opens with three games on NBC and Peacock. The first starts at 3 p.m. Eastern / noon Pacific—so opening day begins well before the evening.
See opening-day games on Peacock ↗If you’ve seen basketball back on TV already, don’t confuse the preseason with the regular-season opener. October 20 is the date for the games below. Here’s how to plan around the afternoon start and choose the right way to watch.
Who plays on opening day?
| Away team → Home team | Eastern | Central | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics → Detroit Pistons | 3 p.m. | 2 p.m. | Noon |
| Philadelphia 76ers → New York Knicks | 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Oklahoma City Thunder → San Antonio Spurs | 9:30 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. |
All three games: NBC / Peacock. Eastern times and matchups come from the NBA’s official schedule release; Central and Pacific conversions are by Next Up Guide. These are scheduled start times, not guarantees of the exact opening tip.
Want the Knicks’ banner ceremony? Turn on the coverage at 6:30 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 p.m. Pacific. That is the pregame show; the 76ers–Knicks game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern.
How to watch in the United States
Peacock lists all three opening-day games. Its Premium plan is $12.99 per month and includes live sports. Premium Plus is $19.99 per month, but you don’t need that upgrade just to access these games. Live sports still carry ads on Premium Plus.
| What you have | What to use |
|---|---|
| Peacock Premium or Premium Plus | Open Peacock’s NBA page for the live games. |
| Access to NBC | The NBA lists the tripleheader on NBC. Check your local NBC listing and your existing TV service before buying another subscription. |
| NBA League Pass alone | These national broadcasts are unavailable live on League Pass in the US. Use NBC or Peacock for live viewing. |
Peacock’s displayed monthly prices checked October 12, 2026. Confirm the current checkout price before subscribing. Official plans and opening-day coverage.
Why won’t League Pass show the games live?
In the US, League Pass excludes nationally broadcast games from live viewing. The NBA’s help page lists NBC and Peacock among the national providers covered by that restriction.
For those national games, the NBA says the League Pass replay becomes available at 6 a.m. Eastern the following day. For opening day, that means Wednesday, October 21. If you’re happy watching later, that is different from paying for another service to watch live. Official blackout and replay guide.
This viewing comparison is for the US. Canada has different blackout rules; readers elsewhere should use the NBA schedule to find the viewing options available in their location.
Do you need Peacock for the whole season?
It covers these opening-day games, but it isn’t a subscription to every NBA game. The NBA’s national schedule also uses ESPN/ABC and Prime Video. Choose later games first, then check who carries them rather than assuming your opening-day service has the entire season.
For now, save the three times above. If you only want the evening games on the East Coast, the first of those starts at 7 p.m.; if you want the complete opening day, set your reminder for the afternoon.
Open the official NBA schedule ↗Sources & updates
Checked October 12, 2026. Matchups and Eastern times: NBA Communications. Viewing plans: Peacock. League Pass restrictions and replay timing: NBA Help Center. Time-zone conversions and viewing suggestions: Next Up Guide. Both images are original AI-generated illustrations, not official game photography. Schedule changes will be reflected here when verified.
