The NBA preseason marks the perfect opportunity to rekindle your passion for your favorite basketball teams. Fortunately, you can watch most preseason games across local and national channels.
DIRECTV STREAM is the best service for tuning in because it carries every national NBA channel and most regional sports networks. But signing up might be unnecessary, depending on the games you want to watch.
Keep scrolling to see this year’s NBA preseason game times and channel listings. We also review other ways to get the most coverage.
What channels are NBA preseason games on?
You can watch nationally televised NBA preseason games on NBA TV, ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT. Though, most preseason matchups air locally on each team’s regional sports network (RSN) or over-the-air affiliate.
Pro tip: NBA preseason games that air locally also stream on NBA League Pass for out-of-market fans.
2024 NBA preseason schedule
This season’s NBA preseason calendar spans the first few weeks of October. Teams will play various home and away games, with several happening in non-NBA markets. Additional preseason contests will occur internationally or feature teams from foreign leagues. It all leads to the start of the regular season on October 22.
Hit the drop-down menus below for the full 2024 NBA preseason TV schedule—including game times and channel listings. Most games appearing on NBA League Pass also air on each participating team’s in-market NBA channel.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets (in Abu Dhabi) | Friday, Oct. 4 | Noon | NBA TV |
| New Zealand Breakers at Utah Jazz | Friday, Oct. 4 | 9:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (in Palm Springs) | Friday, Oct. 4 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers (in Honolulu) | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics (in Abu Dhabi) | Sunday, Oct. 6 | 10:00 a.m. | NBA TV |
| New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets | Sunday, Oct. 6 | 5:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors (in Montréal) | Sunday, Oct. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons | Sunday, Oct. 6 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers | Sunday, Oct. 6 | 9:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Magic at New Orleans Pelicans | Monday, Oct. 7 | 1:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| New Zealand Breakers at Philadelphia 76ers | Monday, Oct. 7 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks | Monday, Oct. 7 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | Monday, Oct. 7 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz | Monday, Oct. 7 | 9:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Phoenix Suns at Detroit Pistons | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Clippers | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Washington Wizards at New York Knicks | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Orlando Magic at San Antonio Spurs | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| New Zealand Breakers at Oklahoma City Thunder | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| New Orleans Pelicans at Orlando Magic | Friday, Oct. 11 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards | Friday, Oct. 11 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Philadelphia 76ers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (in Des Moines) | Friday, Oct. 11 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors | Friday, Oct. 11 | 10:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Detroit Pistons at Phoenix Suns | Friday, Oct. 11 | 10:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers | Friday, Oct. 11 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 6:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Detroit Pistons at Golden State Warriors | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 8:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grizzlies at Indiana Pacers | Monday, Oct. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks | Monday, Oct. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets | Monday, Oct. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks | Monday, Oct. 14 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers | Monday, Oct. 14 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 9:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 9:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 10:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Ratiopharm Ulm at Portland Trail Blazers | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 10:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Charlotte Hornets at Indiana Pacers | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Milwaukee Bucks at Dallas Mavericks | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 10:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Clippers | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic | Friday, Oct. 18 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| New York Knicks at Washington Wizards | Friday, Oct. 18 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets | Friday, Oct. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls | Friday, Oct. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Miami Heat at Memphis Grizzlies | Friday, Oct. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves | Friday, Oct. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Utah Jazz at Portland Trail Blazers | Friday, Oct. 18 | 10:00 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
| Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors | Friday, Oct. 18 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the NBA preseason
DIRECTV STREAM is our favorite way to watch the NBA preseason because it carries every national NBA channel and most RSNs. With plans starting at $69.99 a month, DIRECTV STREAM is expensive for simply watching preseason matchups. But it’ll set you up nicely for the NBA regular season.
Ultimately, the best TV plan for watching any sports league depends on the teams you wish to follow. Using the schedule above for reference, here are three viewing recommendations based on game type.
- Local games: DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo offer the most RSN coverage of any streaming service. Though, some local games stream free online and air on antenna TV channels—making a paid TV subscription unnecessary for certain fans.
- Out-of-market games: NBA League Pass is the league’s out-of-market TV package designed for fans who don’t live near their preferred team. The service also comes with NBA TV for additional NBA and WNBA coverage.
- National games: Any TV service that offers ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT will get you nationally televised NBA games. Sling TV offers the cheapest way to get all three channels with its Sling Orange plan ($45.99/mo.) and Sports Extra add-on ($11.00 a month).
Which TV providers carry NBA preseason games?
TV providers that offer ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT will get you some NBA preseason games. Services like DIRECTV, Fubo, and Spectrum offer more coverage through RSNs, but channel lineups and game availability can vary based on your location.
| Provider | Price | ESPN | NBA TV | TNT | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $71.00–$162.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $84.99–$154.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | $91.99–$121.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | — |
View plans Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $81.99–$95.99/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $30.00–$160.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | — | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $45.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $45.00–$105.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $95.00–$139.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
How to watch the NBA preseason for free
Some NBA teams offer free viewing options during the preseason. For instance, the Sacramento Kings stream matches on Kings.com, while the Phoenix Suns air on Arizona’s Family channels (KTVK and KPHE-LD).
If you want more robust preseason coverage, you can also opt for a free trial of DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo. Both services have an array of RSNs and national NBA networks—though Fubo doesn’t include TNT Sports channels.
How to watch the NBA preseason FAQ
Does NBA League Pass include preseason games?
Yes, you can stream select NBA preseason games on NBA League Pass. The streaming service also includes NBA TV, which airs many NBA and WNBA matchups each year.
Is the NBA preseason on Hulu?
Yes, all NBA preseason games that air on ESPN and TNT are available to stream on Hulu + Live TV. The live TV streaming service doesn’t offer NBA TV and NBA League Pass, but you can sign up for those services separately.
When does the NBA preseason start?
The 2024 NBA preseason starts on Friday, October 4, with a matchup between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi. Preseason ends on Friday, October 18, four days before NBA Opening Day.
Why you should trust us
Our experts researched and compiled a list of every NBA preseason game this year. Using that list, we examined channel listings and compared popular TV providers to determine the best ways to watch the NBA preseason. We based our provider recommendations on game counts, pricing, and ease of use.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
