2026 NBA: Summer Series on ESPN Schedule

The current logo used for ESPN’s NBA live game broadcasts (2022-present). (📸 Photo courtesy of SportsVideo.org)

| 🞙 Friday, April 10, 2026

Highlights:

• ESPN continues its NBA: Summer Series coverage in 2026, televising 50 regular-season games alongside 16 national preseason broadcasts.

• The first week of the regular season is highlighted by two ESPN primetime doubleheaders on the first Wednesday (June 17) and Thursday (June 18).

• 2025 NBA Draft #1 overall pick Cooper Flagg makes his NBA Summer Series debut on Wednesday, June 17, when the Mavericks host the Spurs (9:30 PM ET/8:30 PM CT, ESPN).

• 2025 NBA Finals Rematch: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending NBA Summer Series champion Oklahoma City Thunder play the team that they knocked out in last year’s playoffs, Tyrese Haliburton and the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers, on Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

• ESPN presents its first-ever Emirates NBA Cup Group Play tripleheader on Wednesday, July 22, featuring star power from the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant & Stephen Curry.

ESPN, in collaboration with the NBA, recently announced its game broadcast schedule for the 2026 NBA Summer Series, which marks the 50th anniversary season. As ESPN gears up for its 24th season of the NBA: Summer Series broadcast presentation, the 2026 season is anticipated to feature exciting, star-studded matchups throughout the regular season. This schedule highlights ESPN’s role as one of the key national broadcasters for NBA Summer Series coverage.

ESPN plans to broadcast 50 regular-season games in 2026, primarily on Wednesday nights. Additionally, ESPN will feature select games on Friday nights, starting in early September. Furthermore, certain contests on Saturday and Sunday will also receive national television coverage from ESPN. Before the regular season begins, ESPN is set to air 16 preseason games across the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+) between Friday, May 29, and Friday, June 12.

Season-Opening Action:

ESPN and the ESPN App will broadcast doubleheaders on Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18, marking the second and third days of the regular season. 

In the opening game on June 17, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who led the Eastern Conference with a record of 42-10 in the 2025 season, will visit the New York Knicks, who were Eastern Conference finalists last season, at 7:00 PM ET. The second game will feature the regular-season debuts of the top two picks from the 2025 NBA Draft, as No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks host No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 PM ET. 

The doubleheader on June 18 will commence with a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, at 7:30 PM ET, followed by Brandin Podziemski and the Golden State Warriors hosting Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nuggets from Chase Center in San Francisco, California, at 10:00 PM ET.

Emirates NBA Cup Group Play Tripleheader on Wednesday, July 22:

On Wednesday, July 22, ESPN and the ESPN App will broadcast three Group Play games from the Emirates NBA Cup 2026. The evening will start with Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons visiting Neemias Queta and the Boston Celtics at 5:30 PM ET. The second game will feature a rematch from the 2025 Western Conference Finals, as the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 runner-up Thunder faces the Timberwolves in Oklahoma City at 8:00 PM ET. The tripleheader will conclude with Gary Payton II and the Warriors hosting Jabari Smith Jr. and the Rockets in their first meeting since their seven-game First Round playoff series last season, scheduled for 10:30 PM ET.

NBA Summer Showcase:

For the third consecutive year, the NBA will showcase five games during the Summer Showcase on Thursday, August 20. Each matchup will be accessible on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN App. The NBA’s Summer Showcase festivities will begin with the Cavaliers facing off against the Knicks at 12:00 PM ET, followed by the Spurs taking on the Thunder at 2:30 PM ET. The schedule will continue with the Mavericks playing the Warriors at 5:00 PM ET, the Rockets facing the Lakers at 8:00 PM ET, and the Timberwolves facing the Nuggets at 10:30 PM ET.

Additional NBA on ESPN Schedule Highlights:

• Seven appearances each by Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets, Jarrett Allen and the Cleveland Cavaliers, & Aaron Wiggins and the reigning NBA Summer Series champion Oklahoma City Thunder. 

• Six appearances by Brandon Williams and the Dallas Mavericks.

• Special 2026 Emirates NBA Cup tripleheader on Wednesday, July 22 (Pistons-Celtics, Timberwolves-Thunder & Rockets-Warriors).

• America 250: Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers play host to Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, July 4, at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN (and WPVI-TV, Channel 6, in the Philadelphia market), during America’s 250th birthday celebration.

Besides ESPN’s regular season offerings, ESPN will carry select first-round and second-round games. This season, ESPN will have exclusive coverage of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, while NBC/Peacock is assigned national coverage of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Of course, ABC will show the 2026 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.

All ABC and ESPN NBA broadcasts are available via the ESPN App or with the ESPN Unlimited plan.

Additionally, several resources pertinent to the 2026 NBA Summer Series, including commentators, the scoreboard (published weekly), the standings (also published weekly), Daily “NBA Starting 5” Newsletters, and press releases, are available via the links below.

🔗 Links Mentioned:

☛ 2026 NBA Summer Series Game Commentators

☛ NBA Summer Series | Daily “NBA Starting 5” Newsletters

☛ NBA Summer Series | Weekly Media Press Releases Center

Check out a comprehensive overview of ESPN’s 2026 NBA Summer Series preseason and regular season broadcast schedule. Periodic updates to this page will be made when appropriate throughout the season.

• NBA: Summer Series — 2026 “NBA on ESPN” Preseason and Regular Season Broadcast Schedule (All Times ET & Subject to Change)

⯀ Preseason:

|| ● Friday, May 29 (Preseason):

. Suns vs. Lakers (at Palm Springs, CA) - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - Kelvin Hutchinson, PJ Carlesimo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristian Winfield, Taylor Eiserman

|| ● Sunday, May 31 (Preseason):

. Lakers at Warriors - ESPN, 8:30 PM ET - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Susan Reutter

|| ● Wednesday, June 3 (Preseason):

. Celtics at Grizzlies - ESPN, 5:30 PM ET - Kevin Brown, Stephanie White, Dennis Scott, James Alexander, Devona Kinlaw

. Spurs at Heat - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - Ryan Ruocco, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Katie George

. Trail Blazers at Warriors - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - Mark Jones, King McClure, Malika Andrews

|| ● Friday, June 5 (Preseason):

. Magic at 76ers - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - David Moskowitz, Richard Jefferson, Lisa Salters

. Kings at Trail Blazers - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - Dave Pasch, Tim Legler, Michelle Kuc

|| ● Sunday, June 7 (Preseason):

. Cavaliers at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Doris Burke, Khari Thomas

- » Tamir Moore originally scheduled (replaced by Bob Wischusen).

. Nuggets at Clippers - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Nikki Hodges

|| ● Wednesday, June 10 (Preseason):

. Mavericks vs. Lakers (Las Vegas) - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - Mike Breen, Doris Burke, James Alexander

|| ● Thursday, June 11 (Preseason):

. Rockets at Hawks - ESPN2, 7:30 PM ET - Dan Shulman, Tim Legler, Susan Reutter

|| ● Friday, June 12 (Preseason):

. Timberwolves at 76ers - ESPNU, 12:30 PM ET - Mark Jones, PJ Carlesimo, Michelle Kuc

. Nets at Raptors - ESPNU, 3:00 PM ET - Alex Faust, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

. Pacers at Spurs - ESPNU, 5:30 PM ET - Dave Pasch, Richard Jefferson, Lisa Salters

. Nuggets at Thunder - ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET - Mike Breen, Brendan Haywood, RJ Barrett, Katie George, Tyson Rogers

. Clippers at Warriors - ESPN+, 10:30 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Chelsea Grey, Courtney Williams, Terrika Foster-Brasby, Myron Medcalf

⯀ Regular Season:

|| ● Wednesday, June 17 (Opening Week):

. Cavaliers at Knicks - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Michelle Kuc

. Spurs at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - Dave Pasch, Jay Bilas, Susan Reutter

|| ● Thursday, June 18 (Opening Week):

. Thunder at Pacers - ESPN, 7:30 PM ET - Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Kristian Winfield

. Nuggets at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM ET - Mike Breen, Doris Burke, Katie George

|| ● Sunday, June 21 (Opening Week):

. Knicks at Heat - ESPN, 3:30 PM ET - Tamir Moore, Stephanie White, James Alexander

|| ● Wednesday, June 24:

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

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

|| ● Saturday, June 27:

. Kings at Bucks - ESPN, 2:00 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, July 1:

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

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

|| ● Saturday, July 4 (4th of July):

. Trail Blazers at Heat - ESPN, 5:30 PM ET - 

. Raptors at 76ers - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

. Suns at Clippers - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, July 8:

. Suns at Mavericks - ESPN, 4:30 PM ET - 

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

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

|| ● Monday, July 13:

. Clippers at 76ers - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

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

|| ● Wednesday, July 15:

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

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

|| ● Wednesday, July 22 |  🏆 Emirates NBA Cup Group Play:

. ✵ Pistons at Celtics (East Group B) - ESPN, 5:30 PM ET -

. ✵ Timberwolves at Thunder (West Group A) - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

. ✵ Rockets at Warriors (West Group C) - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Saturday, July 25:

. Raptors at Hornets - ESPN, 5:30 PM ET - 

. Nets at Bucks - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

. Mavericks at Clippers - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -

|| ● Thursday, August 13:

. Heat at Nets - ESPN, 12:30 PM ET -  

. Pistons at Mavericks - ESPN, 3:00 PM ET - 

. Clippers at Thunder - ESPN, 5:30 PM ET - 

. Raptors at Bucks - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

. Warriors at Suns - ESPN, 10:30 PM ET -

|| ● Thursday, August 20 (Summer Showcase):

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

. Spurs at Thunder - ABC/ESPN, 2:30 PM ET - 

. Mavericks at Warriors - ABC/ESPN, 5:00 PM ET - 

. Rockets at Lakers - ABC/ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

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

|| ● Wednesday, August 26:

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

. Pelicans at Bulls - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, September 2:

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

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

|| ● Wednesday, September 9:

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

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

|| ● Friday, September 11:

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

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

|| ● Saturday, September 12:

. Thunder at Heat - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - 

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

|| ● Wednesday, September 16 | AWS NBA Rivals Week:

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

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

|| ● Wednesday, September 23:

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

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

|| ● Friday, September 25:

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

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

|| ● Sunday, September 27 | NBA Pioneers Classic:

. Bucks at Celtics - ESPN, 3:30 PM ET - 

|| ● Wednesday, September 30:

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

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

🞶 NBA: Summer Series Index — 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (ABC; ESPN; NBC/Peacock; Prime Video) |

|| 🛈 Sources: ESPN Press Room, NBA Communications, 2026 Summer Series Official Game Schedule & 2026 Summer Series National Television Broadcasts ||

=== ### ===