Historic NBA Quadruple Header on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On January 19, 2026, the NBA will mark a historic event by presenting its inaugural quadruple header on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, airing live on NBC and streaming on Peacock. The finale of this exciting lineup is a pivotal showdown at 8 PM ET, pitting the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons, who currently lead the Eastern Conference.
Matchup Highlights
This game promises a thrilling confrontation between rising stars Jaylen Brown of Boston and Cade Cunningham of Detroit, concluding a day that also features matchups between:
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks at 1 PM ET
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at 2:30 PM ET
- Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks at 5 PM ET
The Celtics arrive at this matchup boasting a solid 7-3 record over their last 10 games, bolstered by a commanding victory against the Hawks, winning 132-106, just two days prior. With a current standing of 26-15, they aspire to tie the season series against the Pistons at two wins apiece, following their previous win over Detroit on November 26. Notably, all of their encounters this season have been closely contested, with margins of victory not exceeding seven points.
“Jaylen Brown, stepping up as the team leader in the absence of the injured Jayson Tatum, recently showcased his scoring prowess with a remarkable 41-point performance against Atlanta.”
Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Beyond basketball, the Celtics have connections to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Bill Russell, an iconic figure in the franchise’s history, famously marched alongside King during the historic 1963 March on Washington. Additionally, during last year’s MLK Day games, Jayson Tatum made headlines by scoring over 50 points, a feat only three others in NBA history have accomplished during this day.
Across the court, the Pistons, led by their dynamic duo Cunningham and Jalen Duren, are riding high with a two-game winning streak and have recently achieved their 30th victory of the season, a milestone only matched by Oklahoma City thus far. Cunningham has made a significant impact, consistently scoring over 25 points in all three previous encounters against the Celtics this season. Impressively, he ranks second in the league in assists per game with an average of 9.6, underlining his emerging star status.
The city of Detroit is also historically linked to MLK’s legacy, having hosted the Walk to Freedom event in 1963, where King delivered a powerful speech to over 125,000 participants, laying the groundwork for his iconic “I Have a Dream” message.
Viewing Information
For viewers interested in catching all the action, the Celtics vs. Pistons matchup will take place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Fans can tune in via NBC or stream on Peacock.
Upcoming MLK Day NBA Schedule
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks: 1 PM ET on Peacock/NBCSN
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: 2:30 PM ET on NBC/Peacock
- Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks: 5 PM ET on NBC/Peacock
- Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: 8 PM ET on NBC/Peacock
Fans can follow the NBA throughout the season on NBC, which will feature Monday night games streamed via Peacock, along with select Tuesday night doubleheaders and the upcoming Sunday Night Basketball starting February 1, 2026.
To keep up with your favorite NBA content and live streaming options, visit Peacock’s website for details on how to sign up and access a plethora of live sports and entertainment programming.
