The long holiday weekend brings one of the best stretches of regular-season basketball on the calenda
The long holiday weekend brings one of the best stretches of regular-season basketball on the calenda

If you’re planning your long weekend around hoops, Jan. 17–19, 2026 is loaded: a deep Saturday slate, a Sunday showcase on Prime Video, and a full MLK Day card with nine games across the league. Here’s what to circle, how to watch (national TV + streaming), and the practical angles fans and bettors actually care about.

Read more:

- How to Watch NBA Games on MLK Day Without Cable or an Antenna

- NBA Games on MLK Day 2026: Full Schedule, TV Channels, Storylines, and How to Watch

The quick-view TV schedule (national + featured windows)

Saturday, Jan. 17 (featured TV windows)

  • Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks — 7:30 p.m. ET — NBA TV
    (Other games Saturday are primarily on local/RSN broadcasts.)

Sunday, Jan. 18 (global spotlight)

  • Memphis Grizzlies at Orlando Magic — 12:00 p.m. ET — Prime Video
    (Additional Sunday games are mostly local/RSN.)

Monday, Jan. 19 (MLK Day: 9-game slate)

National windows:

  • Bucks at Hawks — 1:00 p.m. ET — Peacock

  • Thunder at Cavaliers — 2:30 p.m. ET — NBC / Peacock

  • Mavericks at Knicks — 5:00 p.m. ET — NBC / Peacock

  • Celtics at Pistons — 8:00 p.m. ET — NBC / Peacock

League-wide MLK Day (all nine games):

  • Bucks at Hawks (1 ET)

  • Thunder at Cavaliers (2:30 ET)

  • Clippers at Wizards (3 ET)

  • Mavericks at Knicks (5 ET)

  • Jazz at Spurs (5 ET)

  • Pacers at 76ers (7 ET)

  • Suns at Nets (7:30 ET)

  • Celtics at Pistons (8 ET)

  • Heat at Warriors (10 ET)

How to watch MLK Day: NBC/Peacock for the featured games; the rest are available via NBA League Pass (out-of-market) per NBA.com’s viewing note.

Must-see games, one per day

Saturday: Suns at Knicks (NBA TV)

This is your cleanest “sit down and watch the whole thing” game on Saturday night because it’s the one clearly slotted for a national window.
What to watch: late-game shot creation, bench scoring swings, and whether New York dictates tempo at home.

Lean/prediction (non-odds): Knicks control pace; Suns keep it close if they win the 3-point math.

Sunday: Grizzlies at Magic (Prime Video)

This is the weekend’s most unique watch: it’s tied to the NBA’s London Game 2026 programming, airing at noon ET on Prime Video.
Early tip + travel rhythms can make this feel different than a normal Sunday afternoon game.

What to watch: first-quarter energy (teams sometimes start slow in neutral-site/early-start spots), and which side wins the turnover battle.

Lean/prediction: lower-scoring feel early; live bettors often watch first 5–6 minutes for pace before touching totals.

Monday (MLK Day marquee): Mavericks at Knicks (NBC/Peacock)

MSG, holiday crowd, and a national window. The 5 p.m. ET slot is usually the “main event” for a lot of fans because it bridges afternoon hoops into primetime.

What to watch: half-court execution, mismatch hunting late, and whether New York’s defense forces Dallas into tougher shots.

Lean/prediction: Knicks in a tight one if they win the glass and keep transition points down.

Stars to track this weekend (and why)

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): transition pressure and rim dominance — especially in an early MLK Day tip.

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) vs Donovan Mitchell (Cavs): elite guard shot-making in the 2:30 ET national window.

  • Cade Cunningham (Pistons) vs Boston’s core: Detroit gets a primetime measuring stick.

Injury updates: the checkpoints that actually matter

If you’re building your watch plan (or betting), don’t rely on rumors. Use official and reliable checkpoints:

  • The NBA’s official injury reporting rules require teams to post statuses by set deadlines (including earlier reporting for back-to-backs).

  • Cross-check with ESPN’s team-by-team injury pages for context and updates.

Betting angles (smart, general, and realistic)

This is analysis, not betting advice.

  1. Holiday/feature windows can inflate overs. National games often attract public action toward overs and favorites. If you like a contrarian angle, look for disciplined defenses and slower-tempo matchups (especially the Knicks).

  2. Early-start games are different games. Noon ET and travel-heavy spots can start sluggish. Live betting the total after the first few possessions can be more informative than guessing pregame.

  3. Shop lines and watch the injury wire. One late scratch can swing a spread more than any matchup note. Use the official injury report timing as your guide.

How to watch (US)

  • NBA TV (select Saturday national window)

  • Prime Video (Sunday showcase)

  • NBC / Peacock (MLK Day featured games)

  • NBA League Pass (out-of-market games; great for the rest of the MLK slate)

Final take

January 17–19 is the kind of weekend that reminds fans why the NBA regular season matters. The matchups are real, the minutes are real, and the outcomes start shaping playoff narratives.

If you only have time for a few games, stick to the national TV windows. If you’re watching all day, MLK Day delivers one of the best basketball experiences of the entire season.