NBA Opening Night on NBC and Peacock, start times and how to watch

For the first time since 2002, NBA games will air on NBC.

The new arrangement is established through the league’s new media rights dealwhich gives NBC and Peacock games every Tuesday night, plus Sunday nights once the NFL season ends. Peacock will also exclusively broadcast Monday night games.

NBC’s return to NBA games begins with an opening night doubleheader to tip off the 2025-2026 season. Here’s how and when you can watch the start of the regular season on Tuesday, October 21.

Game 1: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 p.m. EST on NBC/Peacock)

Just as the network does for the NFL every season, NBC kicks off the new NBA campaign with a spotlight on the defending champions.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are largely the same team that sprinted to 68 wins during the regular season and then swept a game seven in the NBA Finals to win its first championship since moving to OKC. The offseason losses were largely limited to fringe roster players, all the additions came courtesy of the draft, and the biggest news was the maximum team signing extensions with all three (MVP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

Oklahoma City is currently the betting favorite to repeat as NBA champions, listed at +200 with ESPN Bet (well ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets, tied for second at +650).

That title defense begins against a Houston Rockets team that surprised with a 52-30 record last season before being eliminated in seven games by the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

Despite the early defeat, Houston made a big impact by trying to re-energize its young core and add some much-needed goals, with future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant joining the squad. He is one of several new faces at the Rockets, including signings Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela and Josh Okogie (among others).

In exchange for Durant, Houston dealt Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, which changes the look of the 2024-25 club. But the biggest absence is probably that of Fred VanVleet, who tore his ACL and may now miss the entire season. It’s a critical blow to the Rockets’ title hopes and a significant reduction in last year’s positive team chemistry.

Oklahoma City will have a 7.5-point lead on Tuesday (according to ESPN). Coverage of game one begins on NBC and Peacock at 6:30 PM EST, with NBA Showtime.

Game 2: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. EST on NBC/Peacock)

The second game in NBC’s opening night doubleheader heads to the West Coast, where Pacific Division rivals face off at LA’s Crypto.com Arena.

While neither team is on this year’s short list of title favorites, the Warriors and Lakers are both among the most popular teams in the league, and feature some of their biggest stars.

Los Angeles will have to make do without LeBron James, who will be out for several weeks while dealing with sciatica. The attack will therefore largely be through Luka Doncic, just after a period full of headlines how he is in the best shape of his life. Without LeBron, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura are the main offensive supporting roles. Free agent DeAndre Ayton will man the middle, while fellow newcomer Marcus Smart should also be a helper on defense.

Golden State will also be without a key player on Tuesday, as starting shooting guard Moses Moody is missing. But the bigger focus for the Warriors comes from how an older team can stay as healthy as possible during the regular season to best prepare for the playoffs.

Last year, the addition of Jimmy Butler fueled a second-half surge and a trip to the Western Conference semifinals. However, when Stephen Curry went down with a hamstring injury, the Minnesota Timberwolves made quick work of Golden State.

This year’s squad is aiming for a better result with Butler in the starting line-up for a full season, plus the addition of Al Horford, who takes over central duties following the departure of Kevon Looney. The Warriors also re-signed Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga as key pieces in the rotation.

What if you don’t have a Peacock?

For streaming households that don’t have NBC and have yet to subscribe to Peacock, there are some cost-efficient options available to do so.

New Apple One subscribers (including Apple TV). can bundle it with Peacock for just $14.99 per month, or pay the $19.99 per month rate to get Peacock Premium Plus, which is ad-free and also allows users to download content. Existing Apple One subscribers also get the option to subscribe to Peacock Premium plus for just $10.99 per month (compared to the usual price of $16.99).