Pistons Host Suns Monday in NBA Preseason Opener: TV Channels and Start Time

Detroit begins exhibition play against Phoenix at Little Caesars Arena, with regional broadcasts on TV20 Detroit and 3TV plus streaming through DAZN and Suns+.

Preseason basketball returns Monday night, with the Detroit Pistons playing host to the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The 7 p.m. ET tip-off opens the exhibition calendar for both clubs and provides each roster its first game action of the fall.

Coverage is regional. TV20 Detroit carries the telecast in Michigan, while 3TV serves the Phoenix market. Streaming options break down along the same lines: Suns+ handles viewers in the Valley, and DAZN provides live and on-demand viewing for the Detroit area.

DAZN steps into that position as the Pistons' newly established direct-to-consumer media partner. Through the 2026-27 season, the service is slated to offer preseason and regular-season games as well as other Detroit-focused programming. Whenever none of the league's broadcast partners selects a matchup for exclusive national coverage, DAZN will carry it both live and on demand, and new customers can begin with a free trial.

The game follows a notable stretch of business for the organization. Late last week, Detroit completed a long-anticipated extension for Jalen Duren — five years and $200 million — locking in a core contributor from last season's 60-22 team for this year and the campaigns that follow. The agreement came together days before exhibition play began.

Attention now shifts to the court. Cade Cunningham, entering year six, is the option Detroit turns to above all others, and it remains unclear whether the players around him can supply enough support to prevent another early playoff exit that ends in disappointment. That question will not be settled for months, and the preseason is only the first step toward an answer.

Phoenix arrives with its own set of storylines. Devin Booker continues to serve as the anchor in Phoenix, and Jalen Green is healthy heading in. Newcomers Miles Bridges and Koa Peat, a rookie with hometown ties, round out the fresh faces.

Detroit's calendar after Monday includes three additional exhibitions: a road date with the Washington Wizards on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ET, a visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. ET and a home game against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. ET. The remaining listed matchups are regular-season affairs — Boston visits on Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. ET, followed by a trip to Miami on Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ET.

The Suns list four more warm-up games: at the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET, home against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET, a return to San Antonio on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. ET and a home date with the Utah Jazz on Oct. 16 at 10 p.m. ET. Their listed slate closes with a regular-season road game at the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 21 at 10 p.m. ET.