At a Glance
- Four games will tip off on the NBA’s first-ever Martin Luther King Jr. Day quadruple-header, Monday, Jan. 19
- Coverage starts at 1 p.m. ET and runs through 8 p.m. ET across NBC and Peacock
- Eastern Conference powers Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Cavaliers, Hawks and Pistons headline the day
**Why it matters: Fans get wall-to-wall hoops on a national holiday without extra subscription fees beyond existing Peacock or NBC access.
The NBA and NBC are teaming up for a television first: a four-game Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate that tips off at 1 p.m. ET and keeps rolling until the final horn near 10:30 p.m. ET. All eight teams involved have playoff pedigrees, and every contest will be available on either NBC broadcast or the Peacock streaming platform.
Full Schedule and Tip Times
- 1:00 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks (Peacock exclusive)
- 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT – Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers (NBC and Peacock)
- 5:00 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT – Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks (NBC and Peacock)
- 8:00 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT – Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (NBC and Peacock)
Eastern Conference Heavy Day
Six of the eight franchises reside in the East, setting up potential seeding implications before the All-Star break. The Bucks, Celtics and Knicks all entered the season with championship expectations, while the Cavaliers and Hawks have surged behind young cores. Detroit, rebuilding around a promising sophomore class, closes the night in the prime-time window.
Western Conference representation comes via the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Luka Dončić-led Dallas Mavericks. Both organizations own recent Finals experience and bring star power that should translate to casual holiday audiences.
Where to Watch
Peacock carries every game, but only the Hawks-Bucks matinee is exclusive to the streamer. Over-the-air NBC will simulcast the other three, meaning an antenna is sufficient for anyone without cable. The network’s return to NBA coverage this season marked its first regular-season package since 2002, and the league quickly rewarded the partnership with a marquee holiday spot.
Holiday Tradition Takes Shape
MLK Day has long been a staple on the basketball calendar, typically featuring nationally televised double- or triple-headers. Expanding to four games across broadcast and streaming keeps the tradition alive while introducing a new generation of viewers to weekday afternoon hoops. NBC’s rollout mirrors the NFL’s successful Thanksgiving model, when families often leave the television on through successive matchups.
Key Matchups to Track
- Giannis vs. Trae: Milwaukee and Atlanta met in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals; both stars remain in their primes
- SGA in Cleveland: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder into the Q, where the Cavs possess one of the league’s stingiest defenses
- Mavs at MSG: New York’s revamped roster faces Dončić and co. in a nationally relevant inter-conference battle
- Celtics on the Road: Boston’s top-ranked offense from a season ago visits a Pistons squad eager for a signature win
Streaming Notes
Peacock subscribers can jump between games or multi-stream using the service’s split-screen feature. For viewers outside local markets, no additional NBA League Pass purchase is required; the national windows override regional blackouts.
Historical Context
Monday marks the first time NBC has televised NBA action on MLK Day since the network’s previous rights deal ended more than two decades ago. The return adds another legacy partner to the league’s crowded media landscape, which now includes Disney (ABC/ESPN), Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT), Amazon Prime Video and NBC/Peacock.
Ticket Demand
Secondary-market data from Jan. 10 shows average get-in prices for the four venues:
| Game | Venue | Avg. Lowest Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Bucks @ Hawks | State Farm Arena | $42 |
| Thunder @ Cavaliers | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | $38 |
| Mavericks @ Knicks | Madison Square Garden | $98 |
| Celtics @ Pistons | Little Caesars Arena | $25 |
The Knicks premium reflects both the historic arena and New York’s early-season momentum, while Detroit offers the holiday bargain for families near the Midwest.
Announcing Teams
News Of Philadelphia will rotate crews throughout the day, featuring a mix of veteran play-by-play voices and recently retired players in their first year of analysis. Exact pairings will be released the morning of the game, though Ian Eagle and the newly acquired Stan Van Gundy are expected to handle one of the evening slots.
What Comes Next
The league’s national schedule remains busy through mid-February, with rivalry week and the All-Star break on the horizon. Strong ratings for the MLK quadruple-header could influence future holiday planning, potentially opening the door for Christmas-style staggered start times or exclusive streaming windows.
Key Takeaways
- Four games, one day, zero cable subscriptions required for Peacock users
- Eastern Conference contenders dominate the holiday bill
- NBC re-enters the NBA holiday space after a 22-year absence
- Families can watch 9+ consecutive hours of live basketball from breakfast through primetime
Tip-off approaches quickly; calendars set for Monday, Jan. 19 deliver the Association’s most robust MLK celebration yet.
