The Detroit Pistons will open the 2026-27 NBA season on October 20 against the Boston Celtics, a matchup that pits the league’s two most recent Eastern Conference leaders against each other in a highly anticipated tip-off.
Through a new agreement with The Spot-Detroit 20, Scripps’ local broadcast partner, every Pistons game that can be aired over-the-air will be available to viewers without a subscription, restoring a tradition of local television coverage that had been absent since 2005.
A New Era for Pistons Broadcasting
Owner Tom Gores said the arrangement reflects a renewed focus on community connection, while Vice Chairman Arn Tellem noted that expanded access will allow more fans to follow the team’s pursuit of basketball excellence.
President of Scripps Sports Brian Lawlor highlighted the importance of linking sports teams with their supporters through over-the-air broadcasting, and General Manager Mike Murri of WXYZ/The Spot-Detroit 20 expressed pride in the partnership’s impact on the local community.
The deal not only restores a local broadcast platform for Pistons fans but also underscores the franchise’s commitment to growing the sport in the region, a goal that aligns with the broader ambitions of the NBA’s season tip-off schedule.