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, 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.

MLK Day honors the civil rights leader and minister who was assassinated in 1968. It’s the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service.

NBA on MLK Day watch guide

Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.

GameTime (ET)TVStream

Bucks at Hawks

1 p.m.

Peacock

Peacock

Thunder at Cavs

2:30 p.m.

NBC

Peacock

Clippers at Wizards

3 p.m.

League Pass

Jazz at Spurs

5 p.m.

League Pass

Mavs at Knicks

5 p.m.

NBC

Peacock

Pacers at Sixers

7 p.m.

League Pass

Suns at Nets

7:30 p.m.

League Pass

Celtics at Pistons

8 p.m.

NBC

Peacock

Heat at Warriors

10 p.m.

League Pass

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 NBA League Pass.

Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks

Peacock (national)

A reason to watch: Milwaukee is approaching “must-win” space. Yeah, it’s the middle of January, so that feels a bit reactive. But these Bucks are truly struggling at 17-24 (.415). For comparison, they’ve 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’s one-on-one interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Giannis Antetokounmpo insisted that he won’t ask for a trade. But he also used the phrase “as of today” twice.

“Just because I like my eggs scrambled today, I don’t have the opportunity to eat my eggs sunny-side up tomorrow?” Antetokounmpo told Amick. “We’re human, right? So it’s the same thing in basketball.”

For better vibes, it’s worth checking out Jalen Johnson. The Hawks forward is averaging 22.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and eight assists in 40 games.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers

NBC and Peacock (national)

A reason to watch: It’s 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.

LA Clippers at Washington Wizards

League Pass (national), FDSN SoCal and Monumental Sports Network (local)

A reason to watch: Believe it or not, the Clippers are rolling. After a humiliating start, LA has settled into a quiet groove. The Clippers won six in a row between Dec. 20 and New Year’s 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 Monday while dealing with a knee problem, but there just might be some salvation for the league’s oldest team.

On the other end, 20-year-old Alex Sarr is rounding into form amid his second NBA season. Through 32 games, he’s at 16.9 points and 2.2 blocks per game.

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs

League Pass (national), KJZZ-TV and FDSN Southwest (local)

A reason to watch: Victor Wembanyama. That’s a great reason to watch any basketball game. He shaved his head, too:

VIC ON FIRE FROM DOWNTOWN 🔥

📺 @FanDuelSN_SW pic.twitter.com/9XwLWcdoz7

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 16, 2026

The Jazz are not good, but they do play fast (third in pace entering Monday). If nothing else, Utah’s purple uniforms will pop against the San Antonio white.

Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks

NBC and Peacock (national)

A reason to watch: If Cooper Flagg (ankle) 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, but is a consummate showman when he takes his home floor. That floor is a staple of the holiday tradition — the Knicks have been featured in all 40 of the NBA’s MLK Day slates, and they’ve been home for 37 of them.

Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers

League Pass (national), FDSN Indiana and NBC Sports Philadelphia (local)

A reason to watch: Joel Embiid is playing … and hooping. The MVP-level center has suited up for eight of Philly’s nine games this month. He’s giving the audience back-to-the-basket moves and more aggressive transition work. “I can’t 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’s why I’m kind of emotional about it,” he told The Athletic’s Tony Jones recently.

Embiid has a close (and competitive) relationship with fellow Cameroonian and Pacers stalwart Pascal Siakam.

Phoenix Suns at Brooklyn Nets

League Pass (national), Arizona’s Family 3TV and YES (local)

A reason to watch: 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’re 25-17, on pace for 48 wins despite trading Kevin Durant over the summer.

The Nets might be there to inspire Dillon Brooks snarls. They have a bunch of interesting rookies to scout, though. Egor Dёmin is glowing under the radar:

EGOR DËMIN PUTS BROOKLYN AHEAD.

HE’S SCORED 13 STRAIGHT POINTS 😱

3.6 SECONDS LEFT… TAP TO WATCH OT: https://t.co/80yIh4XftZ pic.twitter.com/q1BIOvPL55

— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons

NBC and Peacock (national)

A reason to watch: 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’t 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.

Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors

League Pass (national), FDSN Sun and NBC Sports Bay Area (local)

A reason to watch: It’s 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’s trade deadline.

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