NBA opening night 2026: Knicks raise their championship banner as LeBron's 76ers come to town
The 2026-27 season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, with a triple-header on NBC and Peacock, including a Thunder–Spurs rematch of the Western Conference finals.
At a glance
- The 2026-27 NBA season starts on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- Opening night is a triple-header: Pistons v Celtics, Knicks v 76ers and Thunder v Spurs.
- The Knicks, who beat the Spurs in the 2026 Finals, will raise their first championship banner in more than 50 years.
- NBC and Peacock will show all three games — the first time one network has aired three Tip-Off games.
The NBA is back next week, and opening night is stacked. The 2026-27 season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, with a triple-header broadcast on NBC and Peacock — the first time a network has carried three Tip-Off games.
The schedule
Detroit Pistons v Boston Celtics — Cade Cunningham's Pistons host a Celtics side led by Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers — The main event at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, champions after beating the Spurs in the 2026 Finals, will raise their first title banner in more than 50 years. Standing across the floor will be a revamped 76ers team built around LeBron James.
Oklahoma City Thunder v San Antonio Spurs — A rematch of the 2026 Western Conference finals, which the Spurs won in seven games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder are looking for revenge against Victor Wembanyama.
Star power
The three games feature ten All-Stars and eight All-NBA players from last season, setting a high bar for a year in which the league's balance of power looks wide open.
Outside the US, fans can usually follow games through NBA League Pass or local broadcast partners, which vary by country. Check local listings for start times in your time zone — for viewers in Pakistan and India, evening games in the US fall in the early hours of the morning.
Questions people are asking
When does the 2026-27 NBA season start?
On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with three games broadcast on NBC and Peacock in the United States.
Who won the 2026 NBA championship?
The New York Knicks, who beat the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Finals for their first title in more than five decades.
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