2026 - 2027 NBA on ESPN Schedule

The current logo used for ABC and ESPN’s NBA coverage (2022- present). (Sports Video Group)

| ⏵ Friday, August 14, 2026

🟅 Highlights:

• ESPN has a 59-game schedule as the network celebrates the 25th anniversary of its current NBA rights deal.

• This year’s ESPN schedule highlights include an Emirates NBA Cup Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader, Super Bowl week from Los Angeles, and the second annual NBA Pioneers Classic.

• American Express NBA Tip-Off features LeBron James’ home debut with the 76ers, the debut of Giannis Antetokoumpo with the Miami Heat, & LaMelo Ball’s debut with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Regular showings of the 76ers, Spurs, and Lakers highlight ESPN’s 2026-27 NBA schedule.

ESPN, alongside the NBA, announced the 2026-27 NBA regular-season schedule on Thursday. This is the 25th straight year that ESPN has provided NBA coverage. Just like in the past, ESPN’s schedule is filled with star power, high-profile matchups, and classic rivalries.

NBA games will typically air on ESPN, presented by State Farm, on Wednesday nights throughout the year, with select Friday-night doubleheaders from January through March. Furthermore, ESPN will hold rights to air the biggest matchups of the year with top-tier commentators, including play-by-play, game analyst, reporter, studio host & studio analyst.

American Express NBA Tip-Off:

ESPN kicks off its coverage of the 2026-27 NBA regular season on Wednesday, October 21, starting at 7:30 PM ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards and newly acquired LaMelo Ball, will visit the Miami Heat, where two-time Kia NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his debut with the team. Following this exciting opener, at 10:00 PM ET, the Golden State Warriors, featuring two-time Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry, will head to Los Angeles to take on the Los Angeles Lakers and Luka Dončić.

The American Express NBA Tip-Off continues on Thursday, October 22, at 7:00 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers, with Donovan Mitchell, will face the revamped Philadelphia 76ers, featuring four-time Kia NBA MVP LeBron James in Philadelphia’s home opener and his regular-season home debut with the franchise. The night wraps up with a thrilling matchup between Western Conference rivals, as the Denver Nuggets, led by three-time Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, home to reigning two-time Kia NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, at 9:30 PM ET.

Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader (🏆 Emirates NBA Cup):

For the second straight year, ESPN presents a Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader with three games from the Group Play stage of the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup.

Live game coverage tips off at 5:00 PM ET as Bam Adebayo leads the Miami Heat against Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers. At 7:30 PM ET, LaMelo Ball and the Minnesota Timberwolves clash with Jalen Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Finally, at 10:00 PM ET, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, and the Portland Trail Blazers welcome Dylan Harper and the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs to Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

NBA Christmas Day Presented by State Farm:

ESPN proudly upholds its tradition of delivering comprehensive coverage of all five NBA games on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, the highlight of the regular season. Viewers can catch every game on both ESPN and ABC.

The excitement kicks off at 12:00 PM ET from the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, where the San Antonio Spurs, featuring the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, take on the defending NBA Champion New York Knicks, led by 2026 Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, in a thrilling rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals. Following this, at 2:30 PM ET, the Miami Heat, with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, will travel to Boston to challenge the Boston Celtics and their star, Jayson Tatum.

The action continues at 5:00 PM ET, when the Philadelphia 76ers, alongside LeBron James, face off against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, bolstered by Luka Dončić. This marks James’ first game in Los Angeles since making the move to Philadelphia. As the evening unfolds at 8:00 PM ET, a riveting Western Conference clash features the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.

The star-studded lineup wraps up at 10:30 PM ET with an exciting matchup between the Denver Nuggets, led by three-time Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, and the Golden State Warriors, featuring four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry.

Second annual Pioneers Classic:

ESPN has the broadcast rights to the second annual NBA Pioneers Classic on Wednesday, February 3, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN, as Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons host Jalen Brunson and the visiting New York Knicks. This game will honor the enduring legacy of the NBA’s first Black players and continues a league initiative recognizing the pioneers who helped shape the game.

Super Bowl LXI Week From Los Angeles:

Los Angeles is the host city to this year’s Super Bowl — ESPN’s first — and the network’s NBA schedule helps set the stage for football’s biggest game, beginning on Wednesday, February 10, at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Los Angeles Clippers. Super Bowl week coverage continues on Friday, February 12, at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN, as the Denver Nuggets duel with the Los Angeles Lakers. This leads to ESPN and ABC’s coverage of Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14.

Additional ESPN Schedule highlights:

• League-leading eight appearances by the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Seven appearances each by the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

• Thanksgiving Eve Tripleheader on November 25: Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, & San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers.

• Second annual Pioneers Classic on February 3 as the Knicks enter combat vs. the Pistons, honoring the legacy of the NBA’s first Black players.

• Opening week features three NOTABLE debuts with new teams by signature stars — LeBron James’ home debut with the 76ers, Giannis Antetokoumpo’s debut with the Heat, & LaMelo Ball’s debut with the Timberwolves.

• Super Bowl week in Los Angeles has TWO notable Lakers matchups — vs. Clippers on Wednesday, February 10 & vs. Lakers on Friday, February 12.

Alongside its preseason and regular season coverage, ESPN platforms proudly serve as the exclusive home for the 2027 NBA Finals on ABC, the 2027 Western Conference Finals, and the 2027 NBA Draft. They will also broadcast the first and second rounds of the 2027 NBA Playoffs. Fans can access all ESPN NBA programming through the ESPN App. Additionally, ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes provide extensive coverage throughout both the regular season and postseason. “NBA Today,” ESPN’s daily NBA studio show, airs from Monday to Friday from 3:00 PM ET to 4:00 PM ET. Details about ESPN’s NBA studio shows and their pregame and postgame coverage, which includes popular shows like “Inside the NBA,” “NBA Tip-Off,” and “NBA Countdown,” will be shared later this year.

For additional information about the 2026-27 NBA on ABC Schedule, please click the link provided.

The complete 2026-27 NBA on ESPN preseason and regular season broadcast schedule is presented below.

• NBA on ESPN: 2026-27 NBA Preseason and Regular Season Broadcast Schedule | All Times EDT/EST and Subject to Change

⮞ Preseason:

TBD

⮞ Regular Season:

|| ● Wednesday, October 21 — Opening Week:

. Timberwolves at Heat - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Warriors at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Thursday, October 22 — Opening Week:

. Cavaliers at 76ers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Nuggets at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, October 28:

. 76ers at Pacers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Thunder at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, November 4:

. 76ers at Pistons - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Mavericks at Spurs - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, November 11:

. Cavaliers at Knicks - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Warriors at Rockets - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, November 18:

. Bucks at Heat - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Warriors at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, November 25 | 🏆 Emirates NBA Cup — Group Play :

. 🏆 Heat at 76ers (East Group B) - ESPN, 5:00 PM ET -

. 🏆 Timberwolves at Thunder (West Group B) - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET -

. 🏆 Spurs at Trail Blazers (West Group C) - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET -

|| ● Wednesday, December 16:

. Wizards at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Lakers at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, December 25 — 🎄 Christmas Day:

. Spurs at Knicks - ABC/ESPN, 12:00 PM ET -

. Heat at Celtics - ABC/ESPN, 2:30 PM ET - 

. 76ers at Lakers - ABC/ESPN, 5:00 PM ET - 

. Thunder at Timberwolves - ABC/ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

. Nuggets at Warriors - ABC/ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, January 6:

. Thunder at 76ers - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Knicks at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, January 8:

. Heat at 76ers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Suns at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, January 13:

. Knicks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Rockets at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, January 20:

. Bulls at Nets - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Heat at Spurs - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, January 22:

. Knicks at Hawks - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Timberwolves at Spurs - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET -

|| ● Wednesday, January 27:

. Pistons at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Nuggets at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, January 29:

. Cavaliers at Raptors - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Hornets at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, February 3:

. Knicks at Pistons - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

- ⮞ 2027 NBA Pioneers Classic

. Jazz at Rockets - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, February 10:

. Warriors at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Clippers at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, February 12:

. Nuggets at Lakers - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, February 17:

. Knicks at Pistons - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Celtics at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, February 19:

. 2027 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (Phoenix) - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, February 26:

. Cavaliers at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Lakers at Nuggets - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, March 3:

. Raptors at Heat - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Spurs at Nuggets - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Friday, March 5:

. Celtics at Pistons - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Spurs at Rockets - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, March 10:

. Magic at Heat - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Hawks at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Saturday, March 13:

. Clippers at Trail Blazers - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, March 17:

. Mavericks at Thunder - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Suns at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, March 24:

. Spurs at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. 76ers at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Sunday, March 28:

. Knicks at Magic - ESPN, 12:30 PM ET - 

. Lakers at Rockets - ESPN, 3:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, March 31:

. Warriors at 76ers - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - 

. Nuggets at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, April 7:

. Cavaliers at Spurs - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - 

. Timberwolves at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Sunday, April 11:

. Teams TBD - ESPN, 6:00 PM ET - 

. Teams TBD - ESPN, 8:30 PM ET - 

KEY:

* 🏆 — Emirates NBA Cup: Group Play

| 🞙 🛈 Sources: ESPN Press Room, NBA Communications |

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