Ahead of the 2025-2026 NBA season, NBC and ESPN revealed their opening week schedules.
The NBC On NBC Tip-Off Doubleheader
2025-26 OPENING NIGHT on NBC and Peacock!
🍿 Shai and the champs get their rings
🍿 KD debuts for Houston
🍿 Year 2 of Steph/Jimmy and Luka/LeBronNBA Schedule Release presented by @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/zZzj0fpTzd
— NBA (@NBA) August 12, 2025
The NBA is back on NBC.
The reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, begin the NBA season on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will raise their banner and receive their championship rings.
The Thunder will host the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET. The new-look Rockets will feature Kevin Durant, the former MVP who Houston acquired from the Phoenix Suns in an offseason trade.
Mike Tirico will call the game alongside Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford. Zora Stephenson will provide reports from the sidelines. The studio show, consisting of Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, and Vince Carter, will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
The second game of the night pits Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET.
Noah Eagle and Grant Hill will be on the call, with Ashley ShahAhmadi on the sidelines as a reporter. Ahmed Fareed and analyst Tracy McGrady will be on-site for studio coverage.
Both games will air on NBC and Peacock.
The following week, Peacock NBA Monday will debut, as two games will air exclusively on the streaming service.
On Oct. 27, the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves playing the Denver Nuggets at 9:30 p.m. ET.
NBA On ESPN Opening Week Schedule
This October, @ESPNNBA tips off its coverage of the '25-'26 #NBA season with 2 opening week doubleheaders
Details: https://t.co/uRNgXxd5vO pic.twitter.com/v1bsM9fWhI
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) August 12, 2025
ESPN and ABC renew their partnership with the NBA for the 2025-2026 season.
Opening week will include two marquee doubleheaders on ESPN.
On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Cavaliers head to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. ET. The 9:30 p.m. ET game features the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks.
The next night, Oct. 23, the Oklahoma City Thunder face the Indiana Pacers in an NBA Finals rematch at 7:30 p.m. ET. The nightcap pits the Golden State Warriors against the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. ET.
