Executive Insights
- The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season ends on April 12, 2026.
- The new TV deal features games on NBC, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, and ESPN/ABC.
- 2026 All-Star Weekend is Feb 13-15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA.
- The NBA Trade Deadline is set for February 5, 2026.
- Playoffs begin April 18, 2026, with the NBA Finals starting June 3, 2026.
The 2025-26 NBA Season: The Home Stretch Begins
It is late January 2026, and the NBA season has officially crossed the halfway mark. With the February 5th Trade Deadline looming and the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles just weeks away, teams are scrambling to solidify their playoff positioning. This season marks a historic shift in how fans consume the game, with the first year of the league’s new 11-year media rights deal fully in effect.
Whether you are tracking the race for the No. 1 seed or looking for the national broadcast schedule on the new partner networks (NBC, Amazon, and ESPN), this guide breaks down everything you need to know about the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
Key Dates: Upcoming NBA Schedule Highlights
Mark your calendars for these critical junctures in the 2025-26 NBA calendar:
| Event | Date(s) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| NBA Trade Deadline | Feb 5, 2026 | Rosters lock for the playoffs at 3:00 PM ET. |
| NBA All-Star Weekend | Feb 13–15, 2026 | Hosted at the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. |
| Regular Season Finale | April 12, 2026 | All 30 teams play on the final day. |
| SoFi Play-In Tournament | April 14–17, 2026 | Seeds 7–10 battle for the final two playoff spots. |
| NBA Playoffs Begin | April 18, 2026 | The 16-team postseason bracket tips off. |
| NBA Finals Game 1 | June 3, 2026 | The fight for the Larry O’Brien Trophy begins. |
How to Watch: The New 2025-26 Broadcast Schedule
The 2025-26 season introduced a major shakeup in NBA broadcasting. TNT is no longer a primary rights holder for live games, though Inside the NBA has moved to ESPN/ABC. To catch the action for the rest of the season, you’ll need to know which network owns which night:
- Mondays: Exclusive national games on Peacock.
- Tuesdays: National broadcasts on NBC.
- Wednesdays: Doubleheaders on ESPN.
- Thursdays: Exclusive streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
- Fridays & Saturdays: A mix of ESPN and Amazon Prime Video.
- Sundays: Marquee matchups on NBC and ABC/ESPN.
Upcoming Marquee Matchups (Late Jan – Early Feb 2026)
As we approach the trade deadline, several key games will shape the standings in both conferences:
- Jan 27 (Tuesday): Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks on NBC. A battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights.
- Jan 29 (Thursday): Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat on Prime Video. A classic rivalry renewed as playoff seeding tightens.
- Feb 1 (Sunday): New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers on NBC. A primetime showcase featuring major market stars.
- Feb 13 (Friday): Rising Stars Challenge at Intuit Dome. The kickoff to All-Star Weekend in LA.
Playoff Picture: The Road to April
With the “second half” of the season underway, the hierarchy is becoming clear. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are jockeying for the top seed, while the Denver Nuggets remain a dangerous threat. The Eastern Conference sees the Boston Celtics trying to hold off surging challengers like the Knicks and the surprising Detroit Pistons.
The race for the Play-In Tournament (seeds 7-10) is particularly tight, with teams like the Lakers, Warriors, and Heat fighting to avoid elimination games in mid-April.
In-Depth Q&A
Q: When does the 2025-26 NBA regular season end?
The 2025-26 NBA regular season concludes on Sunday, April 12, 2026, with all 30 teams in action.
Q: Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game being held?
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, on February 15, 2026.
Q: Which channels broadcast NBA games in the 2025-26 season?
Under the new media rights deal, NBA games are broadcast on NBC (Tuesdays/Sundays), Peacock (Mondays), ESPN/ABC (Wednesdays/Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays), and Amazon Prime Video (Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays).
Q: When do the 2026 NBA Playoffs start?
The 2026 NBA Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026, immediately following the Play-In Tournament (April 14-17).
Q: Is TNT still showing NBA games in 2026?
No, TNT is no longer a primary broadcaster for live NBA games as of the 2025-26 season. However, the ‘Inside the NBA’ studio show has moved to ESPN/ABC.
