From Defense to Detective: How to Watch Jalen Brunson Make His ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Debut Tonight

By Alexis Mikulski Ruiz

Alexis Mikulski Ruiz

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Knicks star Jalen Brunson may have helped lead his team to an NBA championship win, but now the “King of New York” is taking on another important role: Detective. The pro baller will appear in tonight’s episode of Law & Order: SVU, titled “Forsaken.”

In the episode, which is the fifth of Season 28, Brunson will play Detective Jay Madison, joining his longtime friend Mariska Hargitay, aka Olivia Benson.

If you want to see Brunson in action, the episode airs at 9 p.m. ET, and you’ll need one of two things: Access to NBC or a subscription to the network’s streaming platform, Peacock. But if you find yourself without either, we’ll show you where you can stream the show for free.

At a Glance: How to Watch Jalen Brunson‘s Law & Order: SVU Debut Online for free

• Channel: NBC
• Date, time: Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. ET
• Free stream: DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV

According to NBC, the special-edition episode will follow this storyline: “When a wedding guest is attacked at the reception, Benson and the squad uncover a secret that shifts the case; Carisi’s pursuit of justice stalls as witnesses refuse to cooperate.”

While Hargitay has been spotted on the sidelines supporting Brunson during the Knicks’ championship games, this marks the first time Brunson will appear alongside his friend on the series. The two first crossed paths in 2024, with Brunson having stated in past interviews that he is a forever fan of the show. Since then, the pair have done everything together, from appearing in Brunson’s Knicks parade float to going out to dinner.

Where to Watch Jalen Brunson’s Law & Order: SVU Episode for Free

While this will be a new moment for Brunson, it’s not his first appearance on an NBC show. He kicked off SNL Season 52 as the host, and now he’s back in another primetime slot. If you want to catch every dun, dun, dun moment in tonight’s episode, here’s how to watch Jalen Brunson on Law & Order: SVU for free with trials to DirecTV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV.

DirecTV

➤ $39.99/month ➤ Five-day free trial ➤ Up to 185+ channels

One of our top recommendations for watching Jalen Brunson’s Law & Order: SVU episode without cable is DirecTV. Plans that include NBC begin at $39.99 per month, and you can start with a five-day free trial.

Fubo

➤ $64.99/month ➤ Five-day free trial ➤ Up to 300+ channels

Fubo is another top streaming service for watching Jalen Brunson’s Law & Order: SVU episode without cable, giving you access to NBC and other live TV programming. The service offers a free trial, after which plans start at $64.99 per month.

Sling

➤ $45.99/month ➤ Up to 46 channels

You can also use Sling TV to watch Jalen Brunson on Law & Order: SVU online, with access to NBC available through the streamer’s Select, Blue, and Orange + Blue plans. Subscriptions start at $19.99 per month.

Hulu + Live TV

➤ $99.99/month ➤ 95+ channels ➤ Three-day free trial

Sure, Hulu + Live TV gives you access to Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN, but it also gives you the ability to watch live TV — including major channels like NBC. The ad-supported plan starts at $99.99 per month after a three-day free trial.

Peacock

➤ $12.99/month ➤ Live and on-demand content

You can also watch Law & Order: SVU on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. Plans start at $8.99 per month, but we recommend upgrading to the ad-free Premium Plus plan for just a few dollars more at $12.99 per month.

When Is Jalen Brunson on Law & Order: SVU?

Jalen Brunson will appear in the Nov. 5 episode of Law & Order: SVU, which airs at 9 p.m. ET.