Two Weeks Until First-Ever NBA Tip-Off Tripleheader on Tues., Oct. 20, Exclusively on NBC and Peacock
NBA champion New York Knicks host new-look Philadelphia 76ers in primetime matchup on NBC and Peacock; Pre-game coverage, including Knicks raising their first championship banner since 1973, begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio Spurs host Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City Thunder in Western Conference Finals rematch on NBC and Peacock at 9:30 P.M. ET. Season tip-off begins with Jayson Tatum and Boston Celtics visiting Cade Cunningham and Detroit Pistons at 3 P.M. ET on NBC and Peacock.
October 06, 2026
It’s almost here! Year 2 of the NBA on NBC and Peacock begins exactly two weeks from today, with the first-ever American Express NBA Tip-Off tripleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 20, on NBC and Peacock, highlighted by 2026 NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks raising the franchise’s first NBA Championship banner since 1973 before hosting four-time NBA MVP LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Live coverage begins with NBA Showtime at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by tip-off at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
See the full NBA on NBC 2026 schedule here.
Knicks-76ers will be bookended by two marquee matchups featuring some of the league’s brightest stars. The day begins with Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics taking on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons and concludes with reigning two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the Oklahoma City Thunder against reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of last season’s thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals.
This will be the first time that a network has ever broadcast three NBA Tip-Off games.
NBC Sports’ 2026 NBA Tip-Off Schedule
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Commentators | Platforms |
| 3 p.m. | Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons | Terry Gannon, Robbie Hummel, Brian Scalabrine* | NBC, Peacock |
| 6:30 p.m. | NBA Showtime | Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady | NBC, Peacock |
| 7 p.m. | Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks | Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, Zora Stephenson | NBC, Peacock |
| 9:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | Noah Eagle, Grant Hill, Ashley ShahAhmadi | NBC, Peacock |
*On the Bench coverage
NBC Sports’ Tip-Off tripleheader boasts an impressive group of NBA stars, featuring:
- The reigning NBA MVP and Clutch Player of the Year (Gilgeous-Alexander), Defensive Player of the Year (Wembanyama), Sixth Man of the Year (Keldon Johnson, San Antonio), Coach of the Year (Joe Mazzulla, Boston), Executive of the Year (Brad Stevens, Boston); and NBA Finals MVP (Brunson), coming off hosting the season premiere of NBC’s Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26 to become only the fifth NBA player to host the iconic show.
- 11 members of the 2026 NBA All-Star team: Jaylen Brown (Philadelphia), Brunson, Cunningham, Jalen Duren (Detroit), De’Aaron Fox (San Antonio), Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City), James, Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York), Wembanyama.
- Eight members of the 2026 All-NBA Team (more than half of the 15 All-NBA selections): Gilgeous-Alexander, Cunningham, Wembanyama (First Team); Brown, Brunson (Second Team); Duren, Holmgren, Maxey (Third Team).
- Six members of the 2026 NBA All-Defensive Team (more than half of the 10 All-Defensive Team selections): Holmgren, Wembanyama, Ausar Thompson (Detroit), Derrick White (Boston); OG Anunoby (New York), Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City).
NBC’s coverage of the NBA is led by coordinating producer Frank DiGraci and coordinating director Pierre Moossa. Sam Flood is Executive Producer & President, NBC Sports Production. The coordinating producer of NBA Showtime is Adam Littlefield. NBA Showtime is directed by Jared Sumner.
