NBA's 2026-27 season opens with Celtics at Pistons triple-header
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The gist
The Boston Celtics visit the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET to open the 2026-27 NBA season.
Opening day also features LeBron James's 76ers debut against the champion Knicks.
Background
The 2026-27 NBA season begins with an opening-day triple-header, starting with the Boston Celtics at the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Celtics enter after a 4-0 preseason record. The season follows an offseason of unprecedented superstar movement, which ESPN describes as shaping one of the most open title races in years. All 30 teams play in the opening week, with games carried across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, NBC, NBCSN, Prime Video, Peacock and NBA League Pass.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons, 3 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena, opens the 2026-27 season.
- Oct 20, 2026Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks, 7 p.m. ET, followed by Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Oct 21, 2026ESPN's opening-day triple-header airs in Australia from 6am AEDT, with the Celtics-Pistons, 76ers-Knicks and Thunder-Spurs games.
- Oct 21, 2026Timberwolves at Heat (7:30 p.m. ET) and Warriors at Lakers (10 p.m. ET) on ESPN/ABC, plus nine other games including Hawks vs. Magic and Bucks vs. Wizards.
- Oct 22, 2026Cavaliers at 76ers (7 p.m. ET) and Nuggets at Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET) on ESPN/ABC.
- Oct 23, 2026Knicks vs. Celtics and Rockets vs. Spurs on Prime Video, with other games on NBA League Pass/DAZN.
Who’s saying what
- Broadcaster
- ESPN says it is Australia's home court for the NBA, airing an average of seven live games a week plus the Boxing Day marathon, All-Star Weekend, playoffs and Finals.
- Broadcaster
- NBC Sports' Mike Bachmann says the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock after a triumphant debut, with over 100 regular-season games across three marquee nights a week.