Watch NBA Games online with Fubo

How to watch the NBA without cable in 2026

The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday, October 20, 2026 with a tripleheader on NBC — Boston at Detroit, Philadelphia at New York, and Oklahoma City at San Antonio — and runs an 82-game regular season through April 11, 2027 before the Play-In Tournament and Playoffs. From marquee national broadcasts on ESPN, ABC, and NBC to local team coverage on regional sports networks, Fubo brings the core of the NBA season together in one place. This guide breaks down how to stream NBA basketball on Fubo without a cable box.

Subscribe to Fubo to stream NBA basketball all season long: Start with a free trial!

Why Fubo is the best choice for NBA fans

Fubo carries the national networks that broadcast NBA games — ESPN, ABC, NBC, and NBA TV — so you can follow the season from one app. Monday Night Basketball on ESPN, select ABC windows, and NBC's Tuesday and Sunday night showcases all stream live on Fubo. Fubo also carries many regional sports networks for local team broadcasts, so in-market fans can catch their team's games beyond the national schedule. With Fubo you get:

• ESPN and ABC — Monday Night Basketball, marquee national matchups, and playoff coverage
• NBC — Tuesday and Sunday night games, Opening Night tripleheader, and the NBA All-Star Game
• NBA TV — around-the-clock basketball coverage, analysis, and select live games
• ESPN+ — select exclusive games, included with Fubo
• Regional sports networks — local team broadcasts where available (coverage varies by market)
• Unlimited Cloud DVR — record games and watch on your schedule
• Multiview — watch multiple games at once on supported devices
• Apps on phones, tablets, smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and more

Watch NBA basketball on Fubo: Start with a free trial!

What you get with Fubo this NBA season

Fubo brings together the networks that carry the bulk of the NBA season:

Local broadcast availability (ABC, NBC) depends on your location and affiliate rights.

2026-27 NBA season: Key dates to know

• Oct. 20 — Opening Night tripleheader on NBC: Boston at Detroit, Philadelphia at New York, Oklahoma City at San Antonio
• Oct. 30 — Emirates NBA Cup group play begins (Tuesdays and Fridays through Nov. 27)
• Dec. 11 — Emirates NBA Cup Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
• Dec. 25 — Christmas Day five-game slate: San Antonio vs. New York (12 PM ET), Miami vs. Boston (2:30 PM ET), Philadelphia vs. LA Lakers (5 PM ET), Oklahoma City vs. Minnesota (8 PM ET), Denver vs. Golden State (10:30 PM ET)
• Feb. 11 — Trade deadline
• Feb. 19-21 — All-Star Weekend in Phoenix
• April 11 — Regular season finale
• April 13-16 — Play-In Tournament
• April 2027 — NBA Playoffs begin
• June 2027 — NBA Finals

What's new for 2026-27

The NBA's $76 billion media deal — signed in 2024 and running through 2036 — enters its second year with expanded broadcast coverage:

• More games on broadcast TV — a record 71 regular-season broadcast windows across NBC and ABC, up from 62 last season. NBC alone carries 50 windows (up from 39), including a new Presidents Day tripleheader and five additional Sunday Night Basketball games.
• NBC's expanded role — NBC carries approximately 100 regular-season games across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN. This season marks NBC's first NBA Conference Final since returning to the league.
• Emirates NBA Cup returns — the in-season tournament runs October 30 through December 11, with group play on Tuesdays and Fridays and the championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Group play, quarterfinal, and semifinal games count toward the 82-game regular-season record.

The offseason also reshaped the league's competitive landscape. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from Milwaukee to Miami, pairing with Bam Adebayo for one of the most formidable frontcourts in the game. No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks. The defending champion New York Knicks open the season at Madison Square Garden with a banner-raising ceremony before hosting the 76ers.

Tips for streaming NBA games like a pro

• Start with Fubo for the broadest NBA coverage — ESPN, ABC, NBC, NBA TV, and your local RSN (where available) in one app
• Check your regional sports network — many NBA teams have a local RSN on Fubo for in-market game broadcasts; coverage varies by market
• Set up Unlimited Cloud DVR — record games across the league and catch up on the ones you missed
• Use Multiview — watch several games side by side during a busy night of basketball
• Check local channel availability — ABC and NBC affiliate access varies by location

This week in the NBA on Fubo

Portland held off Golden State 123-118 in a preseason meeting, with Damian Lillard doing enough damage in limited action to make the result comfortable. In 19 minutes, Lillard went 5-of-11 from the field, connecting on three three-pointers for 15 points — efficient work for a player who wasn't asked to carry a full load. The five-point final margin understates how controlled Portland looked for stretches, though Golden State kept the pressure on through the final minutes.

Upcoming games on Fubo:

What to watch:

Two matchups stand out this week. Philadelphia and Boston meet twice — home and away — giving both teams back-to-back looks at a division rival before the season finds its rhythm. The rematch format raises the stakes on adjustments and rotations in ways a single game cannot. Golden State and the Lakers also square off, a rivalry that rarely needs context to carry weight. Both series offer the kind of competitive texture that tends to reveal early-season depth charts under real pressure.

The bottom line

Here's the best way to stream the NBA in 2026:

1. Start with Fubo for broad live coverage — ESPN, ABC, NBC, NBA TV, ESPN+, and regional sports networks in one app
2. Enjoy ESPN+ at no extra cost for select exclusive matchups and marquee windows
3. Use Unlimited Cloud DVR and Multiview across every screen so you never miss a bucket

Start streaming NBA basketball on Fubo: Sign up here!