New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

The NBA season continues apace with a rematch of this year’s finals between OKC and the Indiana Pacers. And it all happens tonight on ESPN.

The Pacers open their season trying to shake off the sting of last June’s defeat at the hands of the Thunder, where OKC closed out the title 4-3. And that’s not all. The Pacers now must do it without their best player, Tyrese Haliburton, and another key piece in Myles Turner, who went to the Bucks in free agency.

The Thunder, meanwhile, come in with swagger; they’ve already got a win under their belt, and they’re ready for more. Looking forward to tonight’s big game? We’ve got all the info you need on how to watch below.

Thunder vs. Pacers: what to know

When: October 23, 2025 @ 7:30 PM EST

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana

Channel: ESPN

Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)

Thunder vs. Pacers start time:

The matchup between OKC and the Pacers kicks off tonight at 7:30 PM EST.

How to watch Thunder vs. Pacers for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NBA season including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription, you can try a Sling Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.

2025-26 NBA season key dates

Oct. 21: Regular season begins

Oct. 31: NBA Cup group play begins

Nov. 1: NBA Mexico City Game 2025 (Pistons vs. Mavericks)

Nov. 28: NBA Cup group play concludes

Dec. 9-10: NBA Cup quarterfinals

Dec. 13: NBA Cup semifinals

Dec. 16: NBA Cup finals

Dec. 25: Christmas Day (five games)

Jan. 15: NBA Berlin Games (Magic vs. Grizzlies)

Jan. 18: NBA London Games (Magic vs. Grizzlies)

Jan. 20-24: NBA Rivals Week

Feb. 1: NBA Pioneers Classic (Bucks vs. Celtics)

Feb. 5: Trade deadline

Feb. 13-15: NBA All-Star Weekend

April 12: Regular season ends