Last updated: Oct. 14, 2026. This schedule hub is refreshed weekly during the season.
When do the Detroit Pistons play again? The Pistons’ next game is a preseason game at Minnesota on Wednesday, Oct. 14 (8 p.m. ET). They close the preseason at home against Toronto on Friday, Oct. 16 (7 p.m. ET). Both games air on The Spot – Detroit 20. The regular season starts Tuesday, Oct. 20, when Detroit hosts the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
The bigger change this season is where you watch. FanDuel Sports Network Detroit is gone, and most Pistons games now air over the air on Channel 20, with streaming moving to DAZN. Below you’ll find the next games, the channel for every game through December, and the dates worth circling.
Table of Contents
When do the Pistons play next? Upcoming games
All times are Eastern. “The Spot” means The Spot – Detroit 20 (WMYD), the team’s local TV home.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., Oct. 14 | at Minnesota (preseason) | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Fri., Oct. 16 | vs. Toronto (preseason) | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Tue., Oct. 20 | vs. Boston (home opener) | 3 p.m. | NBC |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | at Miami | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | at Philadelphia | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Tue., Oct. 27 | at New York | 8 p.m. | NBC |
| Wed., Oct. 28 | vs. Charlotte | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | at Brooklyn | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
The opener matches the top two seeds from last season’s Eastern Conference standings. It is a national NBC window, so the game itself will not be on Channel 20, but The Spot plans a special hour-long pregame show live from Little Caesars Arena before tip-off.
What channel is the Pistons game on?
For most games, the answer is Channel 20. Here is how the 2026-27 setup works.
Local TV: The Spot – Detroit 20
Scripps Sports’ WMYD, branded The Spot – Detroit 20, is the Pistons’ local broadcast partner. According to the team’s TV and radio announcement, it carries 71 regular-season games plus every preseason game. Because it is a broadcast station, an antenna is enough in metro Detroit, and participating cable and satellite providers carry it too. Regular telecasts come with half-hour pregame and postgame shows.
Outside metro Detroit, Scripps feeds games to partner stations around Michigan, including WXMI (Grand Rapids), WSYM (Lansing), WNEM (Flint), WWTV (Traverse City), WBKB (Alpena), WWUP (Sault Ste. Marie), WJMN (Marquette) and WBKP (Calumet). George Blaha and Greg Kelser call the games.
Streaming: DAZN
DAZN is the Pistons’ exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming partner and carries the locally televised games, live and on demand, at DAZN.com/Pistons. At launch, Sports Video Group reported a seven-day free trial, a $19.99 Monthly Pass and a $119.99 Season Pass, plus “Ultimate” tiers ($24.99 a month or $139.99 a season) that add multiview, alternate feeds and extra streams. DAZN targets fans in the team’s broadcast territory, so check current prices and availability in your area before you subscribe.
National TV: NBC, Peacock, ESPN and Prime Video
Detroit has 19 national appearances this season, spread across NBC/Peacock, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video. Eight of them are also simulcast on Channel 20. The other 11 are national-only, so you’ll need the national network for these:
- NBC: Oct. 20 vs. Boston, Oct. 27 at New York, Nov. 17 at San Antonio, Jan. 18 at Cleveland
- ESPN: Nov. 4 vs. Philadelphia, Feb. 17 vs. New York
- Prime Video: Nov. 20 vs. Toronto, Feb. 5 at Philadelphia, Feb. 27 vs. Oklahoma City, April 9 at New York
- Peacock: March 22 at Minnesota
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Every game is on 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) with Mark Champion and Rick Mahorn. When there’s a scheduling conflict, the broadcast moves to WWJ 950 AM or WDZH 98.7 FM.
Pistons schedule, October to December 2026
Regular-season games through the end of the calendar year, with TV listings from The Spot – Detroit 20’s published broadcast schedule.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 20 | vs. Boston | 3 p.m. | NBC |
| Oct. 23 | at Miami | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Oct. 25 | at Philadelphia | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Oct. 27 | at New York | 8 p.m. | NBC |
| Oct. 28 | vs. Charlotte | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Oct. 30 | at Brooklyn | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 2 | at Charlotte | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 4 | vs. Philadelphia | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Nov. 8 | vs. LA Lakers | 6 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 9 | vs. Washington | 7 p.m. | Peacock / The Spot |
| Nov. 12 | at Washington | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 14 | at Miami | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 17 | at San Antonio | 8 p.m. | NBC |
| Nov. 18 | at New Orleans | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 20 | vs. Toronto (NBA Cup) | 7:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Nov. 22 | at Atlanta | 3:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 24 | at Orlando | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 27 | vs. Milwaukee (NBA Cup) | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 29 | vs. Orlando | 6 p.m. | The Spot |
| Nov. 30 | vs. Denver | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 2 | vs. Memphis | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 13 | at Indiana | 5 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 14 | vs. Brooklyn | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 16 | vs. Phoenix | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 18 | vs. Cleveland | 7:30 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 20 | at Boston | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 22 | at Oklahoma City | 8 p.m. | NBC / The Spot |
| Dec. 23 | at Atlanta | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 26 | at Chicago | 8 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 27 | vs. Portland | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
| Dec. 30 | vs. New Orleans | 7 p.m. | The Spot |
The gap between Dec. 2 and Dec. 13 covers the NBA Cup knockout window. If Detroit advances from its group, extra games will be added then. For January through April, see the official Pistons schedule; we add each month here as it approaches.
Key dates on the 2026-27 Pistons calendar
- Oct. 20: Home opener vs. Boston, 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
- Oct. 30 to Nov. 27: Emirates NBA Cup group play. Detroit’s home Cup games are Nov. 20 vs. Toronto and Nov. 27 (Black Friday) vs. Milwaukee.
- Nov. 4 and Nov. 8: Philadelphia and the Lakers visit Little Caesars Arena.
- Dec. 4 to 9: Cup quarterfinals and semifinals in local markets; the championship is Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
- Dec. 18: Cleveland’s first visit of the season, following the teams’ 2026 playoff series.
- Jan. 1, 2027: New Year’s Day home game vs. Orlando, the third straight year Detroit hosts on the holiday.
- Feb. 3, 2027: Knicks at Detroit, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, in the second annual NBA Pioneers Classic.
What time do the Pistons play tonight? How to check fast
- Find tonight’s date in the tables above. Most home games tip at 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET; West Coast road games can start at 10 p.m. or later.
- Check the TV column. If it says The Spot, tune to Channel 20 or open DAZN. If it names only NBC, ESPN, Prime Video or Peacock, go there instead.
- Confirm on game day with the team’s official schedule, since national networks can move games and start times.
Missed a game? Our Detroit sports scores and results page has the latest finals for the Pistons, Lions, Red Wings, and Tigers.
Pistons schedule FAQ
Are Pistons games still on FanDuel Sports Network?
No. FanDuel Sports Network Detroit shut down, and the Pistons moved their local games to The Spot – Detroit 20 for the 2026-27 season, with DAZN handling streaming.
Can I watch the Pistons without cable?
Yes. A digital antenna picks up Channel 20 for the 71 locally televised games. For streaming, DAZN carries those same local games, and national games air on NBC, ESPN, Prime Video or Peacock.
Is the Pistons home opener on Channel 20?
The game itself is on NBC at 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 20. Channel 20 airs a special one-hour pregame show from Little Caesars Arena beforehand.
How many Pistons games are on national TV?
Nineteen in total: nine on NBC or Peacock, five on ESPN and five on Prime Video. Eight of those are also simulcast on Channel 20; the other 11 air only on the national network.
The bottom line
For most nights this season, Pistons basketball is as simple as Channel 20 or DAZN, with a handful of national games on NBC, ESPN, Prime Video and Peacock. Bookmark this page; we update it each week with the next games and any TV changes. If you follow the Lions too, see our Detroit Lions schedule and guides on how to watch.
Sources: Pistons.com local TV and radio announcement; The Spot – Detroit 20 broadcast schedule (WXYZ); Sports Video Group on the DAZN deal; ClickOnDetroit schedule release (Aug. 13, 2026). Schedules and broadcast assignments can change; confirm on game day.
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