The 2026–2027 NBA season opens October 20 with the first-ever NBA on NBC Tip-Off Tripleheader, featuring Celtics vs. Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, 76ers vs. Knicks at 7 p.m. ET, and Thunder vs. Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET.
All three games will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock, with NBA Showtime beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET and hosted by Maria Taylor alongside analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.
Key storylines include the Knicks debuting as defending NBA champions, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown making their regular-season debuts with the 76ers, and a Western Conference Finals rematch between Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder.
Our long NBA dry spell is finally over. The 2026-2027 NBA regular season begins October 20 with the first-ever NBA on NBC Tip-Off Tripleheader. Tuesday's action includes three top notch games, featuring some of the biggest names in the league, and you can catch it all live on NBC and Peacock.
On Tuesday, October 20, you can catch all three games in the NBA Tip-Off Tripleheader live on NBC and streaming simultaneously on Peacock. Plus, be sure to tune in at 6:30 p.m. ET to catch the return of NBA Showtime, NBC's exclusive pregame show featuring insights, stats, highlights and more.
NBC Turns 100 This Year!
On November 15, 1926, NBC aired its first broadcast — and for 100 years, the network has helped define news, sports, and entertainment. Whether you’re starting your mornings with TODAY, laughing on weekends with SNL, or catching the big game on Sundays, NBC has been part of people’s lives for generations. Now in 2026, we're celebrating a century of shared moments, memories, and milestones. A century together.
Jayson Tatum, #0, of the Boston Celtics brings the ball up court during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on March 8, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images
The Celtics and the Pistons were both favorites to head to the Eastern Conference Finals when the 2026 NBA Playoffs began, and while both teams made the tournament, neither got that far. The Celtics dropped their first round series to the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Pistons, despite being the top seed in the East, lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That means both teams are looking for redemption as the new season begins, and both are clear contenders to fight for a conference title again this season. This game marks the first of three regular season meetings for these teams, and any one of them could be a preview of an eventual playoff matchup.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks on October 20
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks playing against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Coming at us live from Madison Square Garden, this matchup features several must-see firsts at the same time. The New York Knicks will celebrate with their hometown fans as they take the court in the regular season for the first time as defending NBA champions. Knicks fans have been riding high for months after their first title in decades, and now Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and company begin their campaign for a repeat title.
But they're facing some stiff competition, because this game also marks the regular season debuts of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as 76ers. James moved to Philly over the summer and declared that the team would be the last stop in his storied NBA career. Brown is a former NBA Finals MVP and 2024 NBA Champion with the Celtics, who's hoping to be part of a superteam that goes all the way. This game will be our first real look at the new-look 76ers.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs on October 20
Victor Wembanyama, #1 of the San Antonio Spurs, during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 18, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE
We end the night with a rematch of last season's thrilling, seven-game Western Conference Finals, as the Spurs open their season at home against the Thunder. The Spurs are the defending Western Conference Champs, with 2026 Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama leading the team, and they're hoping to finish what they started last season and win a title. They face a Thunder squad looking for revenge, led by 2026 NBA MVP and Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder spent last season dominating just about every team they faced, and the Spurs seemed to be one of the few teams in the league that had an answer for their physical attack. That culminated in a Game 7 Western Conference Finals victory, but while the Thunder lost the series, they still looked like an imposing squad with a talent for taking over games. This whole night is an event, but this is the kind of game that basically guarantees hoops fans will stay up late to see how it ends.
Broadcast teams for NBA on NBC 2026 Tip-Off Tripleheader
NBC Sports has assembled an all-star team of broadcasters for this three-game event. Here's who you can expect on the call.
Celtics vs. Pistons: Play-by-Play by Terry Gannon, analysis by Robbie Hummel, courtside and "On The Bench" reporting by Brian Scalabrine.
76ers vs. Knicks: Play-by-Play by Mike Tirco, analysis by Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford, courtside reporting by Zora Stephenson.
Thunder vs. Spurs: Play-by-Play by Noah Eagle, analysis by Grant Hill, courtside reporting by Ashley ShahAhmadi.
NBA Showtime is hosted by Maria Taylor with analysis from Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.
Catch the NBA on NBC all season long on NBC and Peacock!
NBC Insider NBC100 How to Watch the 2026 NBA Tip-Off Tripleheader on NBC & Peacock (Oct. 20)
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NBC Turns 100 This Year!
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks playing against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images 
