The 2026-27 NBA season opened with Celtics vs Pistons at 3 p.m. ET in Detroit.
The NBA is testing an afternoon start time. ESPN's Dave McMenamin first reported the plan in August.
If fans watch, the 3 p.m. opener could become an opening-day tradition for years.
The 2026 World Cup had many afternoon games in the U.S. The NBA wants the same daytime audience.
The matinee opens a tripleheader. Tonight: 76ers vs Knicks and Thunder vs Spurs.
The game aired on NBC. Streams were on DIRECTV, Fubo, and Peacock.
Boston plays its first season without Jaylen Brown since 2015-16. He joined the 76ers.
Jayson Tatum is the lone star. Paul George came over in the Brown trade.
Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez come off a deep bench.
The Pistons are coming off a 60-win season. They brought their core back.
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson all returned for Detroit.
The Knicks are defending champs. LeBron and Brown joined the 76ers. Giannis went to Miami.
Read the full explainer: what happened, why it matters, and what comes next.
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