The Detroit Pistons officially have their season opener set. Detroit will host the Boston Celtics to start the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The season opener will be part of the NBA's season tip-off and the game will start at 3 p.m.. Detroit and Boston were the top two teams in the Eastern Conference during the regular season.
The Spot - Detroit 20 is the official broadcast partner of the Detroit Pistons beginning this fall.
Under the agreement, The Spot - Detroit 20, owned and operated by The E.W. Scripps Company, will become the official local broadcast home of the Detroit Pistons. The Spot - Detroit 20 will produce and air all locally available pre-season and regular season games. Fans will be able to watch games for free via over‑the‑air television as well as through participating cable and satellite providers. Scripps, which operates both The Spot - Detroit 20 and WXYZ – Detroit’s ABC affiliate – will pair WXYZ’s award-winning local news leadership with The Spot - Detroit 20’s broadcast platform to deliver comprehensive Pistons coverage for fans throughout the market.
“This move is for our fans. They have been huge all season and throughout this playoff run. Their energy and support have lifted our team and helped fuel our resurgence,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores. “It’s a new era of Pistons basketball and we want to make sure that more people in Detroit and throughout Michigan can be part of the journey.”
“This partnership with Scripps Sports is an exciting moment for the Detroit Pistons,” said Arn Tellem, Vice Chairman of the Detroit Pistons. “Basketball has always been deeply woven into the fabric of our city, and we’re proud to expand access to our games. We look forward to partnering with Scripps to deliver outstanding broadcasts and programming that reflects the energy, pride and passion of Detroit.”
The agreement marks the Pistons’ return to a primarily local broadcast television home for the first time since 2005 and removes barriers for fans by eliminating the need for a paid television subscription to watch locally televised games.
“Over-the-air broadcasting has proven to be one of the most powerful ways to connect sports teams with their fans,” said Brian Lawlor, President of Scripps Sports. “As we are seeing right now, the fandom around the Pistons is high and every fan deserves to have access to Detroit Pistons games. Scripps Sports is proud to partner with the Pistons to deliver their games to more fans than ever before – because the best team in the East deserves the best broadcast platform in the NBA.”
“The Spot - Detroit 20 is honored to be the official new TV home of the Detroit Pistons,” said Mike Murri, Regional Vice President and General Manager of WXYZ/The Spot - Detroit 20. “This partnership ensures everyone across Metro Detroit can experience the excitement of Pistons basketball while strengthening our commitment to bringing the community together around the teams and moments that matter most.”
