If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
The NBA is back
The 2026-27 season kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with a tripleheader on NBC, which is back in
partnership with the league for the first time in 23 years. Up first is the Boston Celtics vs. the Detroit Pistons, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers vs. the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the San Antonio Spurs later in the evening. The biggest of these first three games is the Sixers vs. the reigning champion Knicks, which will seeLeBron James make his regular-season debut as a Sixer.
At a Glance: How to Watch 2026-27 NBA Games
- TV channels: NBC, ESPN/ABC, RSNs
- Stream: DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, Hulu + Live TV, Prime Video
- Stream for free: DirecTV, Fubo
- Season starts Tuesday, Oct. 20
If you’re looking to watch any NBA games this season — including the opening games — read on. Ahead is a quick guide on how to watch NBA games during the 2026-27 season, including ways to get free NBA livestreams without cable.
Watch 2026-27 NBA Games: Channels, Season Start Date
2026-27 NBA games will air across NBC (Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday), ESPN and ABC (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), Prime Video (Thursday and Friday), and regional sports networks. The season starts on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Where to Stream NBA Games Online Free 2026-27 Season
Because NBA broadcasts are so spread out, watching basketball without cable can be tricky. The best option for cord-cutters is to get two subscriptions: A live TV streaming service that carries all the channels and Prime Video (since those games will be Prime Video exclusives). Below are four of the best live TV streaming services for watching NBA games online.
FREE TRIAL
DirecTV
DirecTV carries all the channels showing NBA games this season, and it has the best RSN availability of any live TV streamer. Best of all, you get a five-day free trial to all plans that you can use to stream NBA games for free. The best package for basketball is the Choice plan (or higher), which includes RSNs. If you don’t need RSN access, the MySports Genre Pack is a good budget-friendly option at $64.99 per month.
FREE TRIAL
Fubo
Another one of the best live TV streamers for basketball is Fubo, which includes all NBA channels — including national networks and RSNs — in its Pro and Elite packages. Both start with a five-day free trial that you can use for free NBA livestreams. After the trial, pricing starts at $63.99 for your first month and $88.99 a month after that.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV also carries every channel showing NBA games during the 2026-27 season, although its RSN availability is more limited than the two options above. It also does not currently offer a free trial. However, right now you can get your first month for $49.99, which is half off the full price of $99.99 a month.
Sling
A more affordable live TV streaming service for NBA fans is Sling. You can get all the national channels showing games with the Orange + Blue package, which starts at just $60.99 a month. The two downsides are that Sling does not offer a free trial and you don’t get RSN livestreams.
Click here to read the full article.
