{"id":527410,"date":"2026-01-19T12:19:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/527410\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T12:19:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:19:09","slug":"nba-mlk-day-watch-guide-thunder-cavs-celtics-pistons-headline-holiday-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/527410\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA MLK Day watch guide: Thunder-Cavs, Celtics-Pistons headline holiday lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

As is tradition, the NBA celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with wall-to-wall games. While the league itself stays involved through social impact initiatives,<\/a> its players get to show out in arenas across the nation. And because of the designated holiday, stands are filled up for Monday afternoon tipoffs.<\/p>\n

MLK Day honors the civil rights leader and minister who was assassinated in 1968. It\u2019s the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service.<\/p>\n

NBA on MLK Day watch guide<\/p>\n

Watching in person?<\/strong> Get tickets on StubHub<\/a>.<\/p>\nGameTime (ET)TVStream<\/tr>\n\n\n

Bucks at Hawks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Peacock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Peacock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Thunder at Cavs<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

NBC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Peacock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Clippers at Wizards<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

3 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

League Pass<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Jazz at Spurs<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

5 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

League Pass<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Mavs at Knicks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

5 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

NBC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Peacock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Pacers at Sixers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

7 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

League Pass<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Suns at Nets<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

League Pass<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Celtics at Pistons<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

8 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

NBC<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Peacock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Heat at Warriors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

10 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

League Pass<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters will be announced at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. NBC is free over the air. In addition, out-of-market games are available on\u00a0NBA League Pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peacock (national)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> Milwaukee is approaching \u201cmust-win\u201d space. Yeah, it\u2019s the middle of January, so that feels a bit reactive. But these Bucks are truly struggling at 17-24 (.415). For comparison, they\u2019ve put up a win percentage of at least .585 for the past seven seasons. The upcoming stretch will inform their trade deadline plans. In last week\u2019s one-on-one interview with The Athletic\u2019s Sam Amick<\/a>, Giannis Antetokounmpo insisted that he won\u2019t ask for a trade. But he also used the phrase \u201cas of today\u201d twice.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because I like my eggs scrambled today, I don\u2019t have the opportunity to eat my eggs sunny-side up tomorrow?\u201d Antetokounmpo told Amick. \u201cWe\u2019re human, right? So it\u2019s the same thing in basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n

For better vibes, it\u2019s worth checking out Jalen Johnson. The Hawks forward is averaging 22.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and eight assists in 40 games.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers<\/strong><\/p>\n

NBC and Peacock (national)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> It\u2019s a cool clash between clampers and buckets. OKC hits the week at No. 1 in defensive rating, while Cleveland is No. 7 on offense and up to fourth in its last 15 games. Donovan Mitchell is a three-level scorer with a silky jumper; the Thunder defense is consistent, clever and eminently switchable.<\/p>\n

LA Clippers at Washington Wizards<\/strong><\/p>\n

League Pass (national), FDSN SoCal and Monumental Sports Network (local)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> Believe it or not, the Clippers are rolling. After a humiliating<\/a> start, LA has settled into a quiet groove. The Clippers won six in a row between Dec. 20 and New Year\u2019s Day, and they are currently riding a five-game winning streak. Those stretches include a home-and-home sweep of the East-leading Detroit Pistons. James Harden is still diming at 36. He powered his team with a 31-point, 10-assist double-double in an overtime W over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Kawhi Leonard is out<\/a> Monday while dealing with a knee problem, but there just might be some salvation for the league\u2019s oldest team.<\/p>\n

On the other end, 20-year-old Alex Sarr is rounding into form amid his second NBA season. Through 32 games, he\u2019s at 16.9 points and 2.2 blocks per game.<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs<\/strong><\/p>\n

League Pass (national), KJZZ-TV and FDSN Southwest (local)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> Victor Wembanyama. That\u2019s a great reason to watch any basketball game. He shaved his head, too:<\/p>\n

\n

VIC ON FIRE FROM DOWNTOWN \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa @FanDuelSN_SW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9XwLWcdoz7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Jazz are not good, but they do play fast (third in pace entering Monday). If nothing else, Utah\u2019s purple uniforms will pop against the San Antonio white.<\/p>\n

Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks<\/strong><\/p>\n

NBC and Peacock (national)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> If Cooper Flagg (ankle<\/a>) is cleared to play, his pro Madison Square Garden debut becomes appointment television. Either way, New York is a fun watch when locked in. At 25-17 overall, the team sits third in both offensive efficiency and 3-point percentage. Jalen Brunson is also questionable with an ankle injury<\/a>, but is a consummate showman when he takes his home floor. That floor is a staple of the holiday tradition \u2014 the Knicks have been featured in all 40 of the NBA\u2019s MLK Day slates, and they\u2019ve been home for 37 of them.<\/p>\n

Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers<\/strong><\/p>\n

League Pass (national), FDSN Indiana and NBC Sports Philadelphia (local)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> Joel Embiid is playing \u2026 and hooping. The MVP-level center has suited up for eight of Philly\u2019s nine games this month. He\u2019s giving the audience back-to-the-basket moves and more aggressive transition work. \u201cI can\u2019t sit here and say that I thought this would happen again. I was skeptical that I would have a chance of being this consistent. That\u2019s why I\u2019m kind of emotional about it,\u201d he told The Athletic\u2019s Tony Jones<\/a> recently.<\/p>\n

Embiid has a close (and competitive) relationship with fellow Cameroonian and Pacers stalwart Pascal Siakam.<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns at Brooklyn Nets<\/strong><\/p>\n

League Pass (national), Arizona\u2019s Family 3TV and YES (local)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> Phoenix brings real night-to-night intensity. Through the midway point of the season, the Suns are first in steals per game and third in loose ball recoveries. More importantly, they\u2019re 25-17, on pace for 48 wins despite trading Kevin Durant over the summer.<\/p>\n

The Nets might be there to inspire Dillon Brooks snarls. They have a bunch of interesting rookies to scout, though. Egor D\u0451min is glowing under the radar:<\/p>\n

\n

EGOR D\u00cbMIN PUTS BROOKLYN AHEAD.<\/p>\n

HE\u2019S SCORED 13 STRAIGHT POINTS \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

3.6 SECONDS LEFT\u2026 TAP TO WATCH OT: https:\/\/t.co\/80yIh4XftZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/q1BIOvPL55<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons<\/strong><\/p>\n

NBC and Peacock (national)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> The third and final NBC game pairs two Eastern Conference elites. Boston has been in this spot for a while, with at least 50 wins in four straight years and a conference finals or NBA Finals appearance in six of the last nine seasons. Meanwhile, Detroit hasn\u2019t won a single playoff series since 2008. Both sides play inspired defense, and a duel between Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham would end the night in style.<\/p>\n

Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors<\/strong><\/p>\n

League Pass (national), FDSN Sun and NBC Sports Bay Area (local)<\/p>\n

A reason to watch:<\/strong> It\u2019s going to be fast and feverish. Miami arrives with a faster pace and more drives per game than any other team, while Golden State is No. 1 in catch-and-shoot scoring. Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr are two of the best coaches around; Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins get to face off after they were swapped at last season\u2019s trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Streaming and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.<\/p>\n