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:
| Network | What's on it | On Fubo? |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | Monday Night Basketball, national games, and playoff coverage | ✅ |
| ABC | Select national broadcasts and NBA Finals | ✅ (local availability varies) |
| NBC | Tuesday and Sunday night games, Opening Night, All-Star Game | ✅ (local availability varies) |
| NBA TV | Live games, analysis, and year-round basketball programming | ✅ |
| ESPN+ | Select exclusive streaming games | ✅ Included free! |
| Regional sports networks | Local team broadcasts | ✅ (varies by market) |
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
Nikola Jokić needed just 26 minutes to remind everyone what a healthy preseason version of him looks like. Against Chicago, he shot 8-of-12 from the field, finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, and added a block as Denver pulled away in the third quarter with a 40-26 run to secure a 133-128 win. Caleb Wilson gave the Bulls a genuine fight — 17 points, four rebounds, and five assists, including a buzzer-beater before halftime — but the Nuggets' third quarter settled it.
Upcoming games on Fubo:
| Date | Matchup | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Oct 13 | Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic | 7:00 PM ET | NBCSN |
| Tue Oct 13 | New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors | 7:00 PM ET | MSG2 |
| Tue Oct 13 | Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers | 10:00 PM ET | NBA TV |
| Wed Oct 14 | Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat | 7:30 PM ET | YES Network |
| Wed Oct 14 | New Orleans Pelicans at Dallas Mavericks | 8:00 PM ET | NBA TV |
| Wed Oct 14 | Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers | 10:30 PM ET | NBA TV |
| Thu Oct 15 | Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks | 7:30 PM ET | MSG2 |
| Thu Oct 15 | Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets | 8:30 PM ET | NBA TV |
| Fri Oct 16 | Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00 PM ET | NBA TV |
| Fri Oct 16 | Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers | 10:30 PM ET | ESPN |
| Tue Oct 20 | Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons | 3:00 PM ET | NBC |
| Tue Oct 20 | Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks | 7:00 PM ET | NBC |
| Tue Oct 20 | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | 9:30 PM ET | NBC |
| Wed Oct 21 | Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets | 7:30 PM ET | YES Network |
| Wed Oct 21 | Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN Deportes |
| Wed Oct 21 | Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat | 7:42 PM ET | ESPN |
| Wed Oct 21 | Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers | 10:00 PM ET | ESPN Deportes |
| Wed Oct 21 | Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers | 10:05 PM ET | ESPN |
| Thu Oct 22 | Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN |
| Thu Oct 22 | Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN Deportes |
| Thu Oct 22 | Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder | 9:30 PM ET | ESPN Deportes |
| Thu Oct 22 | Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder | 9:35 PM ET | ESPN |
What to watch:
With the regular season opening on its way, two matchups carry immediate weight. Philadelphia at New York puts the defending champion Knicks on their home floor against a 76ers roster that now includes LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe — a lineup that made its debut just days ago. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City visits San Antonio in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals, giving the Thunder and Spurs an early chance to reset that rivalry on Opening Night.
The bottom line
Here's the best way to stream the NBA in 2026:
- Start with Fubo for broad live coverage — ESPN, ABC, NBC, NBA TV, ESPN+, and regional sports networks in one app
- Enjoy ESPN+ at no extra cost for select exclusive matchups and marquee windows
- Use Unlimited Cloud DVR and Multiview across every screen so you never miss a bucket
Start streaming NBA basketball on Fubo: Sign up here!


















