The 2026 Playoffs are looming, which means every NBA team has just a handful of games left to decide their fates and send a message to would-be postseason opponents.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty in the playoff field, so very few teams are a postseason lock right now, but some of the teams that likely are postseason bound still have some big hurdles to get over on the road to the bracket. This week on the NBA on NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball, two of those teams face off in an interconference matchup you won’t want to miss.
RELATED:Â The Full 2025-2026 NBA Schedule of Games on NBA on NBC and Peacock
Who’s playing on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock this week (March 22)?
This week’s installment of Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock takes us to Boston, where the Celtics are riding high as one of the best teams in the East, back at full strength now that Jayson Tatum is back from injury. They’ll face the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves squad, who are playing without their most famous face even as they’re locked in a battle to stay in automatic playoff berth territory in the West.
RELATED:Â Watch NBA Games Live on Peacock Right Here
How to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics on Sunday Night Basketball
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics brings the ball up court during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Timberwolves and the Celtics’Â Sunday Night Basketball game will tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22, from TD Garden in Boston. The game will air live on NBC and stream simultaneously on Peacock, with NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, and Zora Stephenson on the call.
And be sure to tune in early to catch the pregame show, Basketball Night in America, at 7 p.m. ET.
NBA on NBC
The NBA is officially back on NBC and Peacock, with exclusive games every week across broadcast and streaming featuring some of the biggest stars in the game.
The action kicks off every week with Peacock NBA Monday, featuring exclusive games streaming only on Peacock. Then on Tuesday nights, check out NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, which features two marquee games in primetime. With Sunday Night Football wrapped up, the NBA has also taken over NBC’s weekends with Sunday Night Basketball, with a primetime showcase game every week to wrap up the weekend.
Check out the full schedule for every NBA game on NBC and Peacock this season right here.
From real-time stats and predictive fun to highlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features puts you in control of how you watch the game:
Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing experience with new camera feeds and immersive perspectives that bring you to center court. Available weekly for select games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays showing playing insights, heat maps, scoring probabilities, and more.
Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock mobile app for quick recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout plays, wherever you are.
Peacock ScoreCard: Turn every game into an interactive experience. Pick from a range of cards and watch as your predictions come true.
Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal game moments with a curated playlist you can access anytime below your player controls.
Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you’re not missing a second of the NBA action. You can also gift the experience!
What to expect from Timberwolves vs. Celtics on Sunday Night Basketball
Donte DiVincenzo of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors.
The Celtics are in a very solid spot in the final month of the regular season. Though they trail the Pistons for the lead in the East, they are dueling with the Knicks for second place at the moment, which would go a long way toward favorable playoff seeding if they’re able to secure their spot in the coming weeks. Their defense remains arguably the best in the league, All-Star Jaylen Brown is playing well, and team leader Jayson Tatum’s back in the Celtics fold, just in time for a postseason push that could send them back to the NBA Finals.
They’re the clear favorites at home in Boston on Sunday, but not just because of their own skills. The Timberwolves will be playing without their biggest star and leading scorer, Anthony Edwards, who’s out with a knee injury until at least the middle of the week. Fortunately, the T-Wolves are a deep squad, and that leaves them in the capable hands of Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels, who’ll try to keep things firing for the team as they fight for playoff position. Along with the Lakers, the Rockets, and the Nuggets, they’re battling it out for the final four automatic playoff spots in the West, and if they slip too much they could slide down into Play-In territory. It’s up to the rest of the squad to keep that from happening while Ant-Man recovers, so expect the T-Wolves to bring the fight.
Did You Know MLB Is Back on NBC and Peacock?
The MLB is back on NBC and Peacock this season with the addition of Sunday Night Baseball in primetime and plenty of Peacock-exclusive games on the slate this season. Find the full schedule right here.
The line-up features plenty of storied rivalries from across the league. Sunday Night Baseball will be home to division rivalry games including Diamondbacks-Dodgers (March 26); Braves-Phillies (April 19); Tigers-Royals (May 10); Rangers-Angels (May 24); Cubs-Cardinals (May 31); Mets-Phillies (June 21); Yankees-Red Sox (June 28); Padres-Dodgers (July 5); Mariners-Astros (August 16); and Padres-Giants (Sept. 13). Catch it all on Peacock right here.