NBA Games Today October 7, 2026: Full Schedule, TV Channels, Live Scores and the Lakers Sale Crisis

NBA games today, October 7, 2026, feature a five-game preseason slate headlined by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, while the New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET on MSG Network. The night's biggest off-court story remains the formal trust claim filed by the Buss siblings against controlling owner Jeanie Buss over her refusal to sell the family's remaining Lakers stake, a dispute first reported by ESPN and The Athletic on October 7, 2026.

What NBA games are on today, October 7, 2026?

Five NBA preseason games are scheduled today, with the Lakers vs Warriors national broadcast on ESPN serving as the marquee matchup. All times are Eastern and reflect the league's 2026 preseason calendar, which opened on October 3 and runs through October 20 before the regular season tips off on October 21.

Where can fans watch NBA games today on TV and streaming?

ESPN and NBA TV carry tonight's national windows, while every out-of-market game streams on NBA League Pass. According to the NBA's 2026 national television schedule, ESPN holds Wednesday night exclusivity through the preseason, and League Pass subscribers in 2026 can access live local feeds for all five games for $16.99 per month or $99.99 annually.

• National TV: ESPN (Warriors vs Lakers), NBA TV (Trail Blazers vs Suns)
• Regional sports networks: MSG Network, Bally Sports Sun, Altitude TV
• Streaming: NBA League Pass, ESPN+, Fubo, YouTube TV
• International: NBA League Pass International, Sky Sports (UK), ESPN Australia

What are the live scores and results for NBA games today?

Live scores update in real time on NBA.com, the NBA app, and ESPN's scoreboard, with final results posted roughly 15 minutes after each game ends. Preseason scores carry no standings weight, but they do shape rotation decisions: teams typically cap starters at 20 to 24 minutes through October 12 before expanding workloads in the final preseason week.

Why is the Lakers sale fight dominating NBA news today?

The Buss siblings formally filed a claim on October 7, 2026, alleging that Jeanie Buss violated the family trust by blocking the sale of the remaining Lakers shares, according to ESPN and The Athletic. The filing escalates a months-long dispute over control of one of the NBA's most valuable franchises, which Forbes valued at $8.1 billion in its 2026 NBA valuations, second only to the Golden State Warriors at $8.8 billion.

The trust claim asserts that Jeanie Buss's refusal to proceed with the sale breaches fiduciary duties owed to her siblings as beneficiaries, per court documents described by Yahoo Sports.

For context on how ownership instability has affected other franchises, our ESPN NBA coverage hub and The Athletic are tracking the filings daily. Fans searching for broader global results today can also check our Sports Scores Today October 7, 2026 roundup.

Are there WNBA or Summer League games today?

No WNBA games are scheduled for October 7, 2026, because the 2026 WNBA Finals concluded on October 4, and no NBA Summer League games are on the calendar since Summer League ended in July. The next major women's basketball window opens with the 2027 WNBA preseason in May, while NBA Summer League returns to Las Vegas in July 2027.

What NBA games are on tomorrow, October 8, 2026?

Four preseason games are scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026, led by the Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV. The full slate includes Milwaukee Bucks vs Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings vs LA Clippers, all streaming on League Pass.

How does the 2026 NBA preseason schedule shape the regular season?

The 2026 preseason runs 18 days and 62 games, the shortest since 2020, as the league compresses the calendar to reduce player load ahead of the October 21 opening night. According to the NBA's 2026 competition committee report, back-to-back preseason sets were cut by 22 percent year over year, a change aimed at lowering soft-tissue injury rates that peaked at 4.1 per 1,000 player-games in 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do NBA games start today?

The earliest NBA game today tips at 7:30 p.m. ET (Knicks vs 76ers), and the latest starts at 10:00 p.m. ET (Warriors vs Lakers and Trail Blazers vs Suns).

What channel are NBA games on tonight?

ESPN airs Warriors vs Lakers, NBA TV airs Trail Blazers vs Suns, and regional networks (MSG, Bally Sports Sun, Altitude) carry the remaining three games.

Are NBA games today free to watch?

No, most games require a cable login or NBA League Pass subscription, though ESPN+ offers select preseason streams and some regional networks provide free trial windows.

Is the Lakers sale affecting games today?

No, the Buss family trust dispute is an ownership matter and does not change tonight's on-court schedule, though it remains the dominant NBA news story of October 7, 2026.