Put on that swimsuit, sit on that couch and turn on that TV. A new NBA season is finally here – well, sort of.
Ahead of playing in the games that really matter, NBA teams will be speaking out for the preseason action this month. It all starts with the opening of Sunday’s preseason between the Nets and Lakers, which could be a preview of the 2022 NBA Finals. The preseason will end on October 15 with an eight-game roster including two domestic televised clashes. (Celtics vs. Heat and Trail Blazers vs. Warriors).
MORE: Key Dates Upcoming for the 2021-22 NBA Season
Here’s a comprehensive guide to watching NBA preseason games, including TV and streaming options for each contest.
When does the 2021 NBA preseason begin?
- NBA preseason start date: October 3, 2021
- NBA Preseason End Date: October 15, 2021
- NBA Regular Season Start Date: October 19, 2022
NBA teams will play preseason games from October 3 to 15. There will be a three day break between the end of the preseason and the start of the regular season.
How to watch NBA preseason games
NBA preseason games will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV and TNT. You can also stream games through NBA League Pass or fuboTV, which offers a free trial. Fans in Canada can watch games on NBA TV Canada, SN and TSN.
MORE: Watch NBA Preseason Games Live With fuboTV (7 Day Free Trial)
NBA 2021 preseason schedule
Sunday October 3
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Nets against Lakers |
3:30 p.m. |
NBA Television |
Monday October 4
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| 76ers vs. Raptors |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Magic vs. Celtics |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Hawks vs. Heat |
7:30 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Pelicans vs. Timberwolves |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Hornets vs. Thunder |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Jazz vs. Spurs |
8:30 p.m. |
– |
| Warriors vs. Trail Blazers |
10:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Suns vs. Kings |
10:00 p.m. |
– |
| Nuggets vs Clippers |
10:30 p.m. |
– |
Tuesday, October 5
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Pacers vs. Knicks |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Riders vs. bulls |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Wizards vs. rockets |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Bucks vs. Grizzlies |
8 p.m. |
TNT |
Wednesday October 6
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Spurs versus pistons |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Cavaliers vs. Hawks |
7:30 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Magic Against Pelicans |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Jazz against non-conformists |
8:30 p.m. |
– |
| Nuggets vs. Warriors |
10:00 p.m. |
– |
| Lakers vs. Suns |
10:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Kings vs. Clippers |
10:30 p.m. |
– |
Thursday October 7
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Grizzly Bears vs. Hornets |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Raptors vs. 76ers |
7:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Heat versus rockets |
10:00 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
Friday October 8
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Pacers vs Cavaliers |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Dollars versus nets |
7:30 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Pelicans vs. Bulls |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Clippers vs. Mavericks |
8:30 p.m. |
– |
| Heat vs. Spurs |
8:30 p.m. |
– |
| Timberwolves vs. Nuggets |
9:00 p.m. |
– |
| Lakers vs. warriors |
10:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
Saturday October 9
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Raptors vs. Celtics |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Knicks vs. Wizards |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Hawks vs. Grizzlies |
8 p.m. |
NBA Television |
Sunday October 10
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Spurs versus magic |
6:00 p.m. |
– |
| Bulls vs. Cavaliers |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Thunder vs. Bucks |
7:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Suns vs. Lakers |
10:00 p.m. |
ESPN |
Monday, October 11
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Rockets vs. Raptors |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Hornets vs. Heat |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Nets against 76ers |
8 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
| Pistons vs. Grizzlies |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Pelicans vs. Jazz |
9:00 p.m. |
– |
| Kings vs. Trail Blazers |
10:00 p.m. |
– |
| Timberwolves vs. Clippers |
10:30 p.m. |
NBA Television |
Tuesday, October 12
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Raptors vs. wizards |
7:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Warriors vs. Lakers |
10:30 p.m. |
TNT |
Wednesday October 13
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Mavericks vs. Hornets |
6.30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Grizzlies vs. Pacers |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Celtics versus magic |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Pistons vs. Knicks |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Nuggets vs. Thunder |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Bucks vs. Jazz |
9:00 p.m. |
– |
| Trail Blazers vs. Suns |
10:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
Thursday October 14
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Heat vs. Hawks |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Timberwolves versus nets |
7:30 p.m. |
NBA Television |
| Nuggets vs. Thunder |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Lakers vs. Kings |
10:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
Friday October 15th
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Celtics vs. Heat |
6.30 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
| 76ers vs. Pistons |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Cavaliers vs. Pacers |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Wizards vs. Knicks |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Grizzlies vs. bulls |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Mavericks vs. Bucks |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Rockets vs. Spurs |
8:30 p.m. |
– |
| Trail Blazers vs. Warriors |
10:00 p.m. |
NBA Television |
2021-22 NBA Regular Season Schedule
After appearing in 72 games last season, NBA teams will revert to the regular 82-game roster for the 2021-22 campaign. Here’s a breakdown of the 2021-22 NBA schedule:
- Regular season: October 19, 2021 – April 10, 2022
- All-Star Break: February 18-20, 2022
- Game tournament: April 12-15, 2022
- NBA playoffs: April 16-June 19, 2022 (last possible game of the NBA Finals)
- NBA Draft: June 23, 2022
Tuesday October 19 (opening night)
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Nets vs. Bucks |
7:30 p.m. |
TNT |
| Warriors vs. Lakers |
10:00 p.m. |
TNT |
Wednesday October 20
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Pacers vs. Hornets |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Bulls vs. pistons |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Celtics vs. Knicks |
7:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Wizards vs. Raptors |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Rockets vs. Timberwolves |
8 p.m. |
– |
| 76ers vs. Pelicans |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Magic Against Spurs |
8:30 p.m. |
– |
| Thunder against Jazz |
9:00 p.m. |
– |
| Nuggets vs. Suns |
10:00 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Kings vs. Trail Blazers |
10:00 p.m. |
– |
Thursday October 21
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Mavericks vs. Hawks |
7:30 p.m. |
TNT |
| Bucks vs Heat |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Clippers vs. warriors |
10:00 p.m. |
TNT |
Friday October 22
| Game |
Time (ET) |
National television |
| Hornets vs. Cavaliers |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Knicks vs. magic |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Pacers vs. sorcerers |
7:00 p.m. |
– |
| Nets against 76ers |
7:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Raptors vs. Celtics |
7:30 p.m. |
– |
| Pelicans vs. Bulls |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Thunder against rockets |
8 p.m. |
– |
| Spurs vs Nuggets |
9:00 p.m. |
– |
| Suns vs. Lakers |
10:00 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Jazz against Kings |
10:00 p.m. |
– |
Sneer
