The NBA playoffs will overlap the next two nights, making for even worse viewing
The first two nights of the second round of the NBA playoffs will have significant overlap between matchups.
On Monday, NBC and Peacock will carry Game 1 of the 76ers vs. Knicks at 8 pm ET. The Peacock will broadcast the Timberwolves vs. Spurs at 9:30 pm
On Tuesday, NBC and Peacock will air Lakes vs. Thunder at 9:30 pm. The Peacock will broadcast Cavaliers vs. Pistons at 7 p.m
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after his team defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA playoffs in Boston on May 2, 2026. (Jim Davis/AP)
SKIP BAYLESS TO MEET STEPHEN A. SMITH ON ESPN AS THE FIRST RATING SLIP OF THE TAKE
NBA fans are not happy with the scheduling quirk. For years, doubleheaders on ESPN and TNT have been staggered so the second game started where the first ended, or close to it.
But the overlap was a risk the NBA had when it partnered with NBC this season. Since opening night, NBC has avoided airing games before 8 pm ET on weekdays. It also doesn’t want Central Time teams like the Spurs and Thunder to tip off at 9:30 p.m. local time.
Plus, fans won’t be happy to learn that they still need two streaming services — Peacock and Amazon — in addition to NBC, ESPN and ABC to watch the second round.
This makes it difficult, confusing and expensive to use live sports at home. That will eventually get the audience singing along.
Maybe it already is.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to the crowd during a layup against the Denver Nuggets in the second half of the NBA’s opening night game at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Oct. 24, 2023. (Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DOD NOT @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Although the NBA recommends 33 for the first round, OutKick explained last week why that is spin. In fact, playoff viewing is a thing can be down than above. You can read that column here.
It also doesn’t help that at least the second series of the second round isn’t expected to be competitive. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Thunder are -1600 to beat the Lakers. The Spurs are 425 more than the Timberwolves. The Spurs were heavy favorites earlier on Monday before Anthony Edwards was cleared to play.
DraftKings lists the Knicks winning five games over the 76ers at +320, the most likely outcome of that series. Pistons vs. The Cavaliers, perhaps the most attractive matchup, are considered the longest series.
None of this is good.
The YouTube TV logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this screenshot. (Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)
It’s important to note that YouTube TV users may not care about overlap, at least not as much as fans and other providers.
OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Last week, the service introduced a customizable multi-view feature that allows users to choose which channels appear on the screen. The feature allows users to watch two NBA games simultaneously on a split screen, or expand to a four-box view to include NHL playoff games.
Note: All NBA games broadcast on Peacock are available on YouTube TV through the NBC Sports channel.
Alas, let’s watch the games.
