NBA League Pass Free Preview: Top 3 games through Oct. 26
From Oct. 20-26, you can watch NBA League Pass games with a subscription to Sling Orange, Blue, Essentials, or Select. Here are our picks for the top out-of-market games to watch.
The 2026-27 NBA season is underway, and to celebrate, Sling is offering a free preview of NBA League Pass through October 26. That means that you can watch all out-of-market, non-nationally televised NBA games on us. Following the free preview, you can add NBA League Pass for $16.99/mo, billed monthly, so you don't pay for the whole season at once. If you just want to follow your favorite out-of-market team, you can add NBA Team Pass for $13.99/mo.
To help you get the most out of this free preview, we picked three of the best games to watch with NBA League Pass free preview. Follow the link for more information on how to watch the NBA all season long with Sling.
Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat
Friday, Oct. 23, 8 PM ET
From Shaq to LeBron, the Miami Heat have always found a way to attract top talent from other teams (it helps if they can go by a single first name). That trend continued with the team’s blockbuster trade for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. While Miami paid a steep price to land the Greek Freak, he brings a singular skill set and championship pedigree to a team that’s fallen just short of a title several times since the heyday of the Big Three.
Following an extended stretch in the wilderness of the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons could be in the midst of their own halcyon days. Cade Cunningham is in the top 10 for MVP odds on DraftKings, and after making a major leap last season, it’s reasonable to think there are still levels waiting to be unlocked. J.B. Bickerstaff returns for his third season as head coach and he’s instilled a real pride on defense, which the team flashed during a 22-point fourth quarter comeback against the Boston Celtics in their season opener.
While there are still 81 games remaining, it was the largest ever comeback win on opening day, and sends a statement that the Pistons will fight and claw no matter what the score says. They’ll need that grit as they take on a Heat team that will undoubtedly ride the energy from a hyped up crowd on a Friday night in Miami. Be sure to stick around all the way through this one; we have a feeling this game will come down to the wire.
- Why the Detroit Pistons will win: Cade Cunningham is an MVP-track engine, and Detroit's offseason spacing upgrades (John Collins, Isaiah Joe) sit on top of the elite defense that won the Central last year. Against a Heat team still working out how Giannis and Bam Adebayo share the floor offensively, the Pistons' chemistry is the early-season edge.
- Why the Miami Heat will win: Giannis Antetokounmpo is simply the best player in the building — pair him with Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra's system and Miami has a frontcourt Detroit can't match. At home, the Heat's new star power can overwhelm a Pistons team that still lacks a true second creator next to Cunningham.
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 PM ET
https://youtu.be/YA-ZlWt1J8s?si=GJNMUbh47DWdx7iw
Victor Wembanyama vs. Cooper Flagg. Do we need to add anything else? OK, fine. Coming off a shocking run to the 2026 NBA Finals, Wemby and the Spurs began the season with a tough, physical loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. While these two teams have already established one of the best young rivalries in the NBA, the Spurs and Mavericks have had Texas-sized beef dating back decades.
The Mavericks are ready to reignite it. In the craziest coaching hire in some time, Dallas was able to lure Dusty May away from Michigan just 77 days after he led the Wolverines to a national championship. It was a major coup for the Mavericks, who drafted Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall in 2025 and saw him become the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Combined with the return of Kyrie Irving – who is finally healthy after missing all of last season with a torn left ACL – and the Mavs are one of the most fascinating teams in the league this year.
And then there’s Wemby. Sure, the Frenchman went 1-for-13 for 12 points in a rough start to the season, but Wembanyama is still a basketball alien: we can only watch and marvel with awe. Besides, the Spurs are a lot more than just their young superstar. Tobias Harris joined the team from Detroit, and role players like Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie were retained. While the Spurs seemingly arrived ahead of schedule last season, they are now firmly established as a team that no one will overlook.
- Why the San Antonio Spurs will win: San Antonio is a Finals runner-up with Victor Wembanyama anchoring an elite defense and a full offseason of chemistry for the De’Aaron Fox–Stephon Castle–Dylan Harper core. Against a rebuilding Dallas team managing Kyrie Irving's return and leaning on a rookie, the Spurs are the far more complete roster.
- Why the Dallas Mavericks will win: At home under new coach Dusty May, Dallas can ride No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg's energy and a stout defense built around Dereck Lively II. With Tobias Harris's calf a question and any Wembanyama minutes limit in play, a big Flagg night could fuel a statement upset.
Orlando Magic at New York Knicks
Sun., Oct. 25, 7 PM ET
Regardless of their opening night loss to the rebuilt Philadelphia 76ers, it’s going to take a while for the glow of New York’s 2025 World Championship to start fading. The Knicks’ title felt like the rare sports championship where essentially the entire country was rooting for a team to win, and after more than 50 years of frustration, their dominant playoff run will forever be revered in New York City and beyond. Of course, that goodwill will only extend so far into the future, and the Knicks want to give their home fans something to cheer for against the Magic on Sunday night.
Pardon the pun, but Orlando is looking for some of that same magic the Knicks discovered last season. Despite three straight playoff appearances, the Magic blew a 3-1 series lead in the first round against the Pistons, which led to the firing of head coach Jamahl Mosley. Orlando pivoted to former Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, who is known for defense and star development. With their starting five of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs, and Wendell Carter Jr. finally healthy (they only logged around three hours of playing time together last season due to rotating injuries), the Magic could take the next step this season.
But in this game and presumably the remaining regular season, Orlando will have to go through New York. Given the emotions of opening night and the quality of the Sixers, New York’s opening night loss was understandable. But if Jalen Brunson and company drop their Friday night game to the arch-rival Celtics and come into this game 0-2, the home fans could be restless. The champs always get their opponents’ best game too. This should be a fun, tight battle to close out the weekend.
- Why the Orlando Magic will win: A finally-healthy Orlando core under defensive-minded Sean Sweeney can grind any game into the mud. If the Magic's defense is back to its elite 2024-25 form, they can throttle even a loaded Knicks attack and steal one at the Garden.
- Why the New York Knicks will win: New York is the defending champion with all five starters back and Mike Brown's No. 1 playoff offense intact. Continuity is the whole story — against an Orlando team breaking in a new coach and system, the Knicks' cohesion and shot-making should carry the night at home.
All of these games and more than two dozen others will be available during the NBA League Pass free preview through October 26. To watch today, just subscribe to any Sling base pack. Sling Essentials and Sling Orange have NBA games on ESPN, while Sling Select and Sling Blue carry NBC games. To watch the most NBA basketball for the best price with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to Sling Essentials & Select.