The wait is over, hoops fans! The 2026-27 NBA season is set to explode across ESPN and ABC, promising another year of breathtaking dunks, clutch shots, and unforgettable rivalries. Get ready for ESPN's 25th consecutive season of top-tier basketball coverage, bringing the league's biggest stars directly to your screens.
Key Broadcast Highlights:
- ESPN will deliver electrifying matchups every Wednesday and Friday night.
- ABC brings the heat with exclusive NBA Saturday Primetime and NBA Sunday Showcase games.
- Don't miss the epic Christmas Day lineup and the innovative Emirates NBA Cup action.
- Catch defending champions New York Knicks and superstars like Jalen Brunson and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Your Ultimate Guide to the 2026-27 NBA Schedule on ESPN & ABC
The 2026-27 season kicks off with an incredible slate of games, showcasing the league's depth and star power from day one. ESPN and ABC are your homes for the most thrilling basketball moments, from regular season clashes to the decisive NBA Finals.
Early Season Fireworks: October & November
The action begins in earnest with a packed opening week, setting the tone for a monumental season. Fans can look forward to crucial conference matchups and early rivalries heating up.
Opening Week: Catch the Tip-Off!
- Oct. 21: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Oct. 21: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10 p.m. ET
- Oct. 22: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 7 p.m. ET
- Oct. 22: Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 9:30 p.m. ET
Week 2-5: The Battle Begins
- Oct. 28: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers — 7 p.m. ET
- Oct. 28: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Nov. 4: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET
- Nov. 4: Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Nov. 11: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks — 7 p.m. ET
- Nov. 11: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Nov. 18: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat — 7 p.m. ET
- Nov. 18: Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks — 9:30 p.m. ET
Week 6: Emirates NBA Cup Group Play
- Nov. 25: Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 5 p.m. ET
- Nov. 25: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Nov. 25: San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers — 10 p.m. ET
Holiday Hoops & Winter Warmers: December & January
December brings the highly anticipated Christmas Day slate, a tradition that always delivers unforgettable moments. January keeps the intensity high as teams jockey for playoff positioning.
Week 8: NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Kicks Off
- Dec. 12: New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Week 9: Mid-December Mania
- Dec. 16: Washington Wizards vs. Boston Celtics — 7 p.m. ET
- Dec. 16: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 9:30 p.m. ET
Week 10: Christmas Day Extravaganza! (ABC & ESPN)
- Dec. 25: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks — 12 p.m. ET
- Dec. 25: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics — 2:30 p.m. ET
- Dec. 25: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 5 p.m. ET
- Dec. 25: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 8 p.m. ET
- Dec. 25: Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors — 10:30 p.m. ET
Week 12-15: January's Gauntlet
- Jan. 6: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 6: New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors — 10 p.m. ET
- Jan. 8: Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 7 p.m. ET
- Jan. 8: Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 13: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics — 7 p.m. ET
- Jan. 13: Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 20: Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets — 7 p.m. ET
- Jan. 20: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 22: New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks — 7 p.m. ET
- Jan. 22: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 27: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers — 7 p.m. ET
- Jan. 27: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 29: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors — 7 p.m. ET
- Jan. 29: Charlotte Hornets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Jan. 30: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat — 12:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Jan. 30: Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Jan. 30: San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors — 5:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Jan. 30: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Championship Race Heats Up: February & March
As the regular season winds down, every game carries significant weight. Teams push for playoff berths, and superstars look to cement their legacies with clutch performances.
Week 16-19: Post-All-Star Push
- Feb. 3: New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET
- Feb. 3: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Feb. 6: Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Feb. 10: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Feb. 10: LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10 p.m. ET
- Feb. 12: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10:30 p.m. ET
- Feb. 13: Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Feb. 17: New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET
- Feb. 17: Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 9:30 p.m. ET
- Feb. 26: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Feb. 26: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets — 10 p.m. ET
- Feb. 27: Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Feb. 28: Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs (in Austin) — 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Feb. 28: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks — 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Week 20-24: March Madness on the Hardwood
- March 3: Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat — 7:30 p.m. ET
- March 3: San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets — 10 p.m. ET
- March 5: Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET
- March 5: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets — 9:30 p.m. ET
- March 6: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- March 7: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics — 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
- March 7: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets — 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- March 10: Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat — 7 p.m. ET
- March 10: Atlanta Hawks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 9:30 p.m. ET
- March 13: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- March 13: LA Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers — 10:30 p.m. ET
- March 14: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks — 12 p.m. ET (ABC)
- March 14: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- March 17: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 7:30 p.m. ET
- March 17: Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10 p.m. ET
- March 24: San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics — 7:30 p.m. ET
- March 24: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Golden State Warriors — 10 p.m. ET
- March 28: New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic — 12:30 p.m. ET
- March 28: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets — 3 p.m. ET
- March 31: Golden State Warriors vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 7 p.m. ET
- March 31: Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks — 9:30 p.m. ET
Playoff Push & The Road to the Finals: April & Beyond
The regular season concludes with crucial games determining playoff seeding. The journey to the 2027 NBA Finals will be filled with drama, starting with intense first-round matchups and culminating in the ultimate championship battle.
Week 25: Final Regular Season Showdowns
- April 7: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs — 7:30 p.m. ET
- April 7: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10 p.m. ET
- April 11: TBD — 6 p.m. ET
- April 11: TBD — 8:30 p.m. ET
NBA Playoffs – First Round: TBD
Conference Semifinals: TBD
Western Conference Finals: TBD
2027 NBA Finals: TBD
Prepare for an unforgettable season of NBA action! With ESPN and ABC bringing you the best games, you won't miss a moment of the excitement.
