The 2026-27 NBA Schedule Release presented by Ticketmaster continues with the unveiling of the 41st edition of the NBA on MLK Day on Monday, Jan. 18, 2027.
Star-studded games will be played across the league, including four broadcast on NBC/Peacock, with basketball serving as a platform to honor the life, leadership and lasting impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while spotlighting the values of equality, unity and justice.
In addition to the competition on the court, this is a day when the league amplifies voices, stories and initiatives that reflect Dr. King’s call for justice and service – on and off the court. Across arenas and broadcasts, the focus extends beyond the final score, reinforcing the NBA’s commitment to creating change through sport.
The schedule tips off at noon ET with four marquee games across NBC and Peacock.
2027 MLK DAY on NBC and Peacock! 💯
🍿 Cade, Pistons and Spida, Cavs collide in The Land
🍿 LeBron, new-look Sixers visit Jalen Johnson and the Hawks
🍿 Antman and Brunson headline a Wolves-Knicks showdown at MSG
🍿 KD and the Rockets battle No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and the… pic.twitter.com/V9xEkHbGGK— NBA (@NBA) August 12, 2026
Detroit at Cleveland (12 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
The last two teams to finish as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference — the Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) in 2024-25 and the Detroit Pistons (60-22) in 2025-26 — open the MLK Day slate in Cleveland with the first of three games on NBC.
All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell of the Cavs and Cade Cunningham of the Pistons take center stage in this rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, which Cleveland won in seven games. Mitchell (26 points) led four Cavs with 20+ points as Cleveland rolled to a 125-94 win in Detroit in the win-or-go-home Game 7.
One player to watch is Detroit’s Jalen Duren, who remains a restricted free agent in early August. Duren, who earned All-NBA Third Team honors last season, is a key piece for the Pistons as they face the Cavs’ frontline duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Philadelphia at Atlanta (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Dr. King’s hometown of Atlanta hosted the first NBA on MLK Day game in 1986, and the tradition continues in 2027.
Last season, the Hawks finished No. 6 in the East by a single game over the No. 7 Sixers, earning the final guaranteed playoff spot and sending Philly to the SoFi Play-In Tournament to earn their way in, which the Sixers did. While they took different routes to the postseason, they both suffered the same fate: elimination by the eventual champion Knicks — Atlanta in the first round and Philly in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Both teams reworked their rosters in the offseason, but again did so in different ways. Atlanta’s moves were more under-the-radar: re-signing veteran CJ McCollum to a one-year deal, trading for Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Ryan Nembhard and Devin Carter. Meanwhile, Philly made bold moves with the acquisition of Jaylen Brown from Boston and the signing of free agent LeBron James to headline their six total player additions.
Atlanta has won the last nine meetings between these teams, dating back to Jan. 10, 2024. Can the Hawks make it 10 straight, or will the new-look Sixers snap the streak?
MLK DAY IN THE A! 👑 @GeorgiaPower pic.twitter.com/drGz97tybp
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) August 12, 2026
Minnesota at New York (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
With their offseason acquisition of LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets to play alongside Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves now have one of the most exciting young backcourts in the league. And on MLK Day, that box office duo will play on one of the game’s brightest stages: Madison Square Garden in a matchup with the Knicks.
How even have these teams been recently? They have split each of their last six regular-season series, dating back to the 2020-21 campaign, with each winning on the other team’s home court three times.
While New York won its first NBA title in 53 years last season, the Timberwolves are still in search of their first. After back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025, Minnesota was eliminated by San Antonio in the West Semifinals in 2026, which helped spark the Wolves’ desire to shake up their roster. Can the Wolves earn a statement win over the defending champs at the World’s Most Famous Arena?
Houston at Memphis (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock exclusive)
For the 24th time, the Grizzlies will host an MLK Day matchup in Memphis, the city where Dr. King was assassinated in the former Lorraine Motel on the night of April 4, 1968. As part of their annual tradition, the Grizzlies have held several events aimed to further Dr. King’s fight for equality and justice.
On the court, the Grizzlies will welcome Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets to Memphis in a matchup of Southwest Division rivals. That rivalry has been one-sided over the past three seasons, with Houston holding a 10-2 head-to-head advantage since the start of the 2023-24 season.
As the Rockets seek a fifth straight win over the Grizzlies, they will have a new foe to contend with in Cameron Boozer — the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, who shined in Summer League and looks to make an immediate impact at the pro level after winning at every step along his journey to the NBA. Can Boozer and the new-look Grizzlies turn the tide on this rivalry with an MLK Day victory?
Presidents’ Day four-game lineup
A star-studded NBC Sports quadrupleheader highlights the NBA schedule on Presidents’ Day, headlined by LaMelo Ball’s return to Charlotte to face the Hornets.
An NBC Sports quadrupleheader will highlight the NBA schedule on Presidents’ Day (Monday, Feb. 15).
The four-game lineup opens with Minnesota’s LaMelo Ball returning to Charlotte to face the Hornets.
NBA Schedule Release presented by @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/ASGahOlnpC
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 12, 2026
Minnesota at Charlotte (12 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
After playing the first six seasons of his career in Charlotte, LaMelo Ball was traded to Minnesota in July for a package centered around Naz Reid and future draft assets. On Presidents’ Day, Ball will return to Charlotte for the first time with the Timberwolves, playing in front of fans he dazzled for the past half-dozen years.
Philadelphia at Dallas (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
The new-look Sixers head to Dallas to face reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks. This matchup also features a reunion of former teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, who should be back on the court after missing last season with a torn ACL.
San Antonio at Miami (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
It’s the Alien vs. the Greek Freak as Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo meet in Miami. While Presidents’ Day may be an American holiday, this matchup is headlined by two of the game’s greatest global superstars with otherworldly talents.
Indiana at Golden State (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBC Sports Network)
Tyrese Haliburton is back after missing all of last season recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals. After a tough season without their All-Star guard, can Indy bounce back to contender status with a healthy Haliburton? Meanwhile, the Warriors are looking to make another run with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and a potentially returning Jimmy Butler III, who will be a year removed from surgery to repair his torn ACL.
