The NBA is back – here’s the place to stream every game without cable
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nba is back
The 2026–27 season begins with a tripleheader on Tuesday, October 20 on NBC, returning in partnership with the league for the first time in 23 years. First up is Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons, followed in the evening by Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs. The biggest matchup of these first three games is the Sixers vs. the defending champion Knicks, with LeBron James making his regular season debut as a Sixer.
At a glance: How to watch 2026-27 NBA games
If you want to watch any NBA game 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 on NBC (Monday, Tuesday and Sunday), ESPN and ABC (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday), Prime Video (Thursday and Friday) and regional sports networks. The season begins Tuesday, October 20.
Where to stream NBA games online for free in the 2026-27 season
Since NBA broadcasts are so spread out, it can be difficult to watch basketball without cable. The best option for cord-cutters is to get two subscriptions: A live tv streaming service That includes all channels and Prime Video (since those games will be Prime Video exclusives). Below are the four best live TV streaming services to watch NBA games online.
free Trial
DirecTV
DirecTV offers all channels showing NBA games this season, and it has the best RSN availability of any live TV streamer. The best thing is that you get a five day free trial That’s all the plans 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
One of the best live TV streamers for basketball is fubo, whose Pro and Elite packages include all NBA channels, including national networks and RSNs. both start with a five day free trial Which you can use for free NBA livestream. After the trial, pricing starts at $63.99 for your first month and $88.99 per month thereafter.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV also offers 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 per month.
sling
A more affordable live TV streaming service for NBA fans is Sling. You can get all the national channels showing the game with the Orange + Blue package, which starts at just $60.99 per month. The two downsides are that Sling doesn’t offer a free trial and you don’t get RSN livestreams.