The Unofficial NBA Streaming Guide
Stream every NBA game, without the guesswork.
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Are you ready to watch the 2024-25 NBA regular season when it tips off? With all the national and regional sports networks (RSNs) available through streaming services, you won’t have to miss a single game this season. I explain all this below.
In a hurry? If you just want to start the new NBA season right, these are your best options:
- Fubo: Get 50+ sports channels in a 150+-channel selection. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
- DIRECTV STREAM: Great source for RSNs all over the nation. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
- Hulu Live: Get 95+ live TV channels along with Disney+ and ESPN+. Try the Hulu Live free 3-day trial.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and its international popularity is growing, as well. While NCAA basketball remains popular, nothing beats the intense action of the pros in the NBA. But what happens if you don’t have cable? Can you watch the NBA online without cable TV in 2025?
You sure can. It’s now easier than ever to watch NBA games without cable. In the guide below, I’ll explore how to get an NBA live stream from home without spending a fortune on cable.
Not in the US? Click to see international streaming options.
NBA Games Today
Here are all the games taking place today. Games without a listed TV channel will be broadcast on the teams’ RSNs locally and on NBA League Pass elsewhere.
Channels You Need to Watch NBA Games Without Cable
NBA coverage is shared by several different channels. And games are broadcast in two ways: nationally and regionally.
Nationally Broadcast NBA Games
This season, national TV coverage is split between the following channels:
- ABC
- ESPN
- NBA TV
- TNT
These channels are available via Sling TV and DIRECTV STREAM. Fubo offers all but TNT and Hulu + Live TV offers all but NBA TV. But you may still want to go with them because the vast majority of games are regionally broadcast on RSNs.
Regionally Broadcast NBA Games
If you are a fan of your local NBA team and want to watch most games, you will need access to that team’s regional sports network (RSN).
DIRECTV STREAM offers almost every RSN but it is more expensive: $114.99/month. Fubo and Hulu + Live TV offer coverage in fewer areas but are less expensive.
Find your team in the following table to determine your choices:
| Team (RSN) | DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu‡ |
| Atlanta Hawks (FanDuel Sports Southeast) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Boston Celtics (NBC Sports Boston) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Brooklyn Nets (YES Network) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Charlotte Hornets (FanDuel Sports Southeast) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Chicago Bulls (Chicago Sports Network) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cleveland Cavaliers (FanDuel Sports Ohio) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Dallas Mavericks (FanDuel Sports Southwest) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Denver Nuggets (Altitude Sports) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Detroit Pistons (FanDuel Sports Detroit) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Golden State Warriors (NBC Sports Bay Area) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Houston Rockets (Space City Home Network) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Indiana Pacers (FanDuel Sports Indiana) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Los Angeles Clippers (FanDuel Sports SoCal) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Los Angeles Lakers (Spectrum SportsNet) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Memphis Grizzlies (FanDuel Sports Southeast) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Miami Heat (FanDuel Sports Sun) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Milwaukee Bucks (FanDuel Sports Wisconsin) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (FanDuel Sports North) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| New Orleans Pelicans (Gulf Coast Sports) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| New York Knicks (MSG) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Oklahoma City Thunder (FanDuel Sports Oklahoma) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Orlando Magic (FanDuel Sports Florida) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Philadelphia 76ers (NBC Sports Philadelphia) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Phoenix Suns (KTVK/KPHE) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Portland Trail Blazers (Root Sports Northwest) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sacramento Kings (NBC Sports California) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| San Antonio Spurs (FanDuel Sports Southwest) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Utah Jazz (KJZZ 14) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Washington Wizards (Monumental Sports Network) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Toronto Raptors (NBA League Pass) | 💲 | 💲 | ❌ |
NBA Playoffs
The NBA regular season ends on April 13, 2025. The Play-In games start on April 15th with the regular playoffs beginning on April 19th.
NBA playoff games are all nationally televised. They will appear on exactly the same channels as the nationally televised regular season games: ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT. The NBA Finals will air exclusively on ABC.
How to Watch NBA Online Without Cable
For sports fans who have cut the cord, there are a couple of different ways to watch NBA online without cable TV. Keep in mind that these are all paid options — there’s no legal way to watch NBA online for free outside a handful of games on ABC, which you can watch with an antenna. Here are my top recommendations for NBA streaming services:
- Fubo: Has most of the national channels that feature NBA as well as a great selection of RSNs. You can test it out for free.
- DIRECTV STREAM: The most expensive option at $114.99/month, but it has all the national channels in addition to the best selection of regional sports networks in the industry. You can try it with a 5-day free trial. (deal details)
- Hulu + Live TV: Offers a great way to stream NBA without cable and enjoy 95+ great channels plus ESPN+ and Disney+. You’ll get ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT (a must for the NBA All-Star Game and Slam Dunk Contest), regional sports networks, and much more.
- Sling TV: A great low-cost option. For $45.99/month, you can get TNT and all the ESPN channels (including ESPN3, which airs all the games on ABC). And there are many other options.
- YouTube TV: Similar to Hulu + Live TV, it’s $82.99/month plan offers ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV, TNT, and more.
- NBA League Pass: A good way to watch basketball games without cable. It allows you to watch all out-market games for $99.99 per season. Blackout restrictions apply, however. So if you are a fan of your local team, this is not a good option. I’ll explain more in the guide below.
Watch the NBA Online Internationally
While there are multiple options for watching the NBA online depending on where you live, I recommend you check out ExpressVPN. VPNs allow you to stream without geo-restrictions. So you’ll be able to access streams across the world, and protect your privacy in the process.
TVs and Other Devices to Livestream NBA Games
All these streaming services provide apps that run on the most popular devices in use today. These include Amazon Fire TV, Android mobile, Android TV-based smart TVs, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS (iPhone), and Roku.
All but DIRECTV STREAM support smart TVs from LG, Vizio, and those based on Android TV. Samsung smart TVs are supported by all services.
Fubo, Hulu, and NBA League Pass support the Xbox One gaming console. Hulu and League Pass also support the PlayStation. And Hulu + Live TV supports the Nintendo Switch.
And, of course, you can watch via a web browser on most devices (which you can connect to your TV). Check our streaming service reviews for complete lists of supported devices.
Our Choice
After trying out a bunch of streaming services, Fubo really stood out for watching NBA games. It’s got all the key channels like ESPN and NBA TV, so you’re covered for national and regional matchups. The streaming quality is smooth and sharp – even offering some games in 4K – and the app is super easy to use without feeling clunky. Plus, it works on just about any device, so you can switch from your TV to your tablet or phone without a hitch. Compared to others I tested, Fubo nailed it with its solid channel lineup and reliable streaming, making it a great pick for basketball fans who want a no-fuss, top-quality experience.
My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.
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* We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. Wherever you live, it is your responsibility to comply with local laws and the T&Cs of any service you use. Our research shows that VPNs are illegal in only a handful of authoritarian countries (e.g., North Korea, Belarus, Turkmenistan) plus Iraq. However, VPNs are subject to local restrictions in other countries (specifically China, Russia, Türkiye, UAE, India, Iran, Egypt, or Uganda); the rules are often complex or ambiguous, and it is your responsibility to ensure you understand and comply with the laws that apply to you.