watch the NBA Playoffs without cable
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2024 NBA Playoffs: Watch Every Game Online and Without Cable

You can watch NBA Playoffs without cable or satellite thanks to a host of new live TV streaming services. Read on to learn all your options.

In a hurry? The playoffs will air on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT. You will get those channels and more with these excellent services:

  • DIRECTV STREAM: Get a great channel lineup with the best selection of RSNs in the industry. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
  • Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save $25 on Sling TV now.
  • Hulu + Live TV: This total entertainment streaming service provides a great on-demand selection and all the essential live TV channels with a 3-day free trial.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $6.67/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

Indiana Pacers
Paul George drives Anthony Tolliver by joshuak8 under CC BY-SA 2.0.

NBA Playoffs Channels

First things first; if you want to watch the NBA Finals games without cable, you’ll need to know what channels they air on first. Unlike the regular season with blackouts and out-of-market games, the playoffs are broadcast nationwide.

Save $25 on Sling TV Now

There are three channels that the NBA playoff games will air on, and they are ABC, ESPN, TNT, and some minor early coverage on NBA TV. The schedule looks like this:

Keep in mind is that all the games airing on ABC will mostly likely also be airing on ESPN3. In general, ESPN3 airs all ABC Sports events. And ESPN3 aired the NBA finals last year.

This is important because Sling TV does not offer ABC in most areas but does offer ESPN3 (it is the only service that offers it within its own app and channel guide).

Watching NBA Playoffs Without Cable

Your best bet for watching the NBA playoffs is with a streaming service. But you can watch a lot of games absolutely free if you want.

Streaming

The major streaming services allow you to watch most of the NBA Playoffs and Finals. And most of them allow you to watch every game from the Play-in through the Finals.

  • Sling TV: For just $40.00/month, Sling Orange provides ESPN, ESPN3 (ABC Sports), and TNT. You can get NBA TV with the Sports Extra add-on for $11/mo more. The base plan comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR. (Sling TV review, NBA Playoffs Guide)
  • DIRECTV STREAM: The Choice plan ($108.99/month) gives you ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. But probably more important, it provides subscribers in just about every area with their local RSNs, which are the only way to watch all the regular season games of your local team(s). All plans come with unlimited cloud DVR and streaming on unlimited devices at the same time. (DIRECTV STREAM review)
  • Hulu + Live TV: Adds 100+ live TV channels to the Hulu Bundle of on-demand library, ESPN+, and Disney+. It includes ABC, ESPN, and TNT. It does not, however, offer NBA TV. The plan comes with unlimited hours of cloud DVR and streaming on up to two devices at once. (Hulu + Live TV review)
  • FuboTV: This is a great streaming service for sports fans with over 150 channels. But it lacks TNT so it probably isn’t the best channel if the playoffs are the focus of your viewing (it is great for the NBA regular season). Starting at $79.99/month, you also get unlimited cloud DVR storage and streaming on up to 10 devices at home and two away. (FuboTV review)
  • YouTube TV: A solid streaming service similar in many ways to Hulu + Live TV. It is slightly less expensive ($72.99/month) and does offer NBA TV but lacks ESPN+ and Disney+.

Save $25 on Sling TV Now

Sling TV Basketball
Sling TV provides great coverage of college basketball and the NBA.

Antenna

The cheapest way to get ABC is through a simple over-the-air (OTA) antenna. Far more advanced than their rabbit-eared ancestors, OTA antennas can give you all of the broadcast channels you know and love (ABC included, plus NBC, CBS, and Fox) in 1080i HD picture for free (minus the cost of the antenna, of course). Our favorite OTA antenna brand is Mohu, but feel free to shop around.

See our Indoor HD Antenna Guide for all the information on choosing and setting up an antenna.

Devices to Live Stream NBA Finals

FuboTV NBA Android
Android phone running FuboTV displaying NBA related channels.

All the streaming TV providers discussed above have apps that run on the most popular streaming devices in use today.

Samsung and Android TV smart TVs are supported by all services. Other than DIRECTV STREAM, they all support smart TVs from LG and Vizio.

TV stick devices that turn ordinary TVs into streaming TV (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku) are supported by all services. That’s also true of mobile devices running Android and iOS. And you can use them (and some web browsers) to cast to your TV with Chromecast.

All the services except DIRECTV STREAM support the Xbox One gaming console. Hulu and YouTube support the PlayStation. And Hulu also supports the Nintendo Switch.

You can also watch via a web browser on most devices, which you can connect to your TV. See our streaming service reviews for details.

2024 NBA Playoff Schedule

The 2024 NBA playoff schedule is coming. We have as much information as is currently available.

DateTime (ET)TeamsTV
Tue Apr 167:30 pmLos Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans PelicansTNT
Tue Apr 1610:00 pmGolden State Warriors vs Sacramento KingsTNT
Wed Apr 177:30 pmMiami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ersESPN/ESPN2
Wed Apr 1710:05 pmAtlanta Hawks vs Chicago BullsESPN
Fri Apr 197:40 pmChicago Bulls vs Miami HeatESPN
Fri Apr 199:30 pmNew Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento KingsTNT
Sat Apr 201:00 pmMagic vs CavaliersESPN
Sat Apr 203:30 pmSuns vs TimberwolvesESPN
Sat Apr 206:00 pm76ers vs KnicksESPN
Sat Apr 208:30 pmLakers vs NuggetsABC
Sun Apr 211:00 pmHeat vs CelticsABC
Sun Apr 213:30 pmMavericks vs ClippersABC
Sun Apr 217:00 pmPacers vs BucksTNT
Sun Apr 219:30 pmPelicans vs ThunderTNT
Mon Apr 227:00 pmMagic vs CavaliersNBA TV
Mon Apr 227:30 pm76ers vs KnicksTNT
Mon Apr 2210:00 pmLakers vs NuggetsTNT
Tue Apr 237:30 pmSuns vs TimberwolvesTNT
Tue Apr 238:30 pmPacers vs BucksNBA TV
Tue Apr 2310:00 pmMavericks vs ClippersTNT
Wed Apr 247:00 pmHeat vs CelticsTNT
Wed Apr 249:30 pmPelicans vs ThunderTNT
Thu Apr 257:00 pmCavaliers vs MagicNBA TV
Thu Apr 257:30 pmKnicks vs 76ersTNT
Thu Apr 2510:00 pmNuggets vs LakersTNT
Fri Apr 265:30 pmBucks vs PacersESPN
Fri Apr 268:00 pmClippers vs MavericksESPN
Fri Apr 2610:30 pmTimberwolves vs SunsESPN
Sat Apr 271:00 pmCavaliers vs MagicTNT
Sat Apr 273:30 pmThunder vs PelicansTNT
Sat Apr 276:00 pmCeltics vs HeatTNT
Sat Apr 278:30 pmNuggets vs LakersABC
Sun Apr 281:00 pmKnicks vs 76ersABC
Sun Apr 283:30 pmClippers vs MavericksABC
Sun Apr 287:00 pmBucks vs PacersTNT
Sun Apr 289:30 pmTimberwolves vs SunsTNT
Mon Apr 29TBDCeltics vs Heat
Mon Apr 29TBDLakers vs Nuggets
Mon Apr 29TBDThunder vs Pelicans
Tue Apr 307:00 pm76ers vs KnicksTNT
Tue Apr 308:00 pmMagic vs CavaliersNBA TV
Tue Apr 309:30 pmPacers vs BucksTNT
Wed May 17:30 pmHeat vs CelticsTNT
Wed May 110:00 pmMavericks vs ClippersTNT
Sat May 47:00 pmTimberwolves vs NuggetsTNT/truTV
Sun May 51:00 pmMagic vs Cavaliers†
Mon May 67:30 pmPacers vs KnicksTNT/truTV
Mon May 610:00 pmTimberwolves vs NuggetsTNT/truTV
Tue May 77:00 pmCavaliers vs CelticsTNT/truTV
Tue May 79:30 pmMavericks vs ThunderTNT/truTV
Wed May 88:00 pmPacers vs KnicksTNT/truTV
Thu May 97:00 pmCavaliers vs CelticsESPN
Thu May 99:30 pmMavericks vs ThunderESPN
Fri May 107:00 pmKnicks vs PacersESPN
Fri May 109:30 pmNuggets vs TimberwolvesESPN
Sat May 113:30 pmThunder vs MavericksABC
Sat May 118:30 pmCeltics vs CavaliersABC
Sun May 123:00 pmNBA Draft LotteryABC
Sun May 123:30 pmKnicks vs PacersABC
Sun May 128:30 pmNuggets vs TimberwolvesTNT
Mon May 137:00 pmCeltics vs CavaliersTNT/truTV
Mon May 139:30 pmThunder vs MavericksTNT/truTV
Tue May 148:00 pmPacers vs KnicksTNT
Tue May 1410:30 pmTimberwolves vs NuggetsTNT
Wed May 157:00 pmCavaliers vs CelticsTNT
Wed May 159:30 pmMavericks vs ThunderTNT
Thu May 168:30 pmNuggets vs TimberwolvesESPN
Fri May 17TBDKnicks vs PacersESPN
Fri May 178:30 pmCeltics vs CavaliersESPN
Sat May 188:30 pmThunder vs MavericksESPN
Sun May 193:30 pmPacers vs KnicksABC
Sun May 198:00 pmTimberwolves vs NuggetsTNT
Tue May 218:00 pmPacers vs CelticsESPN/ESPN2
Wed May 228:30 pmMavericks vs TimberwolvesTNT/truTV
Thu May 238:00 pmPacers vs CelticsESPN
Fri May 248:30 pmMavericks vs TimberwolvesTNT/truTV
Sat May 258:30 pmCeltics vs PacersABC
Sun May 268:00 pmTimberwolves vs MavericksTNT/truTV
Mon May 278:00 pmCeltics vs PacersESPN/ESPN2
Tue May 288:30 pmTimberwolves vs MavericksTNT/truTV
Thu May 308:30 pmMavericks vs TimberwolvesTNT
Thu Jun 68:30 pmMavericks vs CelticsABC
Sun Jun 98:00 pmMavericks vs CelticsABC
Wed Jun 128:30 pmCeltics vs MavericksABC
Fri Jun 148:30 pmCeltics vs MavericksABC
Mon Jun 178:30 pmMavericks vs Celtics‡ABC
Thu Jun 208:30 pmCeltics vs Mavericks‡ABC
Sun Jun 238:00 pmMavericks vs Celtics‡ABC

Want to know more about watching the NBA? See our complete NBA Viewers Guide for everything you need to know.

2024 NBA Playoff Picture

Here are the teams in each conference that have made the playoffs (including the play-in):

‡ indicates that the team has made the playoffs. † indicates that the team will participate in the play-in.

Wrapping Up

You can stream every game of the 2024 NBA playoffs and finals. Don’t miss a game!

Sling TV is our top choice for the NBA finals. Save $25 on your first month of Sling TV.

FAQs

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

After the regular season, the 7th through 10th best teams in each conference compete to get the last two playoff spots. It is similar to the First Four during March Madness, but way more complicated! The 7th and 8th teams play and the winner goes to the playoffs. The loser plays the winner of the 9th and 10th team game, and the winner of that goes to the playoffs.

Confused? It’s actually simpler than it sounds. The 7th and 8th teams need to win one of two games to make the playoffs. The 9th and 10th teams need to win two of two games.

  1. Team 8 at Team 7
    • Winner: go to playoffs
    • Loser: go to Step 3
  2. Team 10 at Team 9
    • Winner: go to Step 3
    • Loser: see you next season
  3. Step 2 Winner at Step 1 Loser
    • Winner: go to playoffs
    • Loser: see you next season.
LeBron James
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on November 21, 2014 in Washington, DC: Image by KA Sports Photos under CC BY-SA 2.0.

What were the 2023 NBA playoff teams?

What were the 2023 NBA playoff results?

Play-In Round Results

West
  • New Orleans Pelicans (0-1)
  • Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (1-0)
East

Playoff Results

First Round
Second Round
Conference Finals
  • Miami Heat (4) vs Boston Celtics (3)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (0) vs Denver Nuggets (4)
2023 NBA Playoffs Finals results
  • Thu Jun 1 : Game 1 — Nuggets (104) vs Heat (93) (ABC)
  • Sun Jun 4 : Game 2 — Heat (111) vs Nuggets (108) (ABC)
  • Wed Jun 7 : Game 3 — Nuggets (109) vs Heat (94) (ABC)
  • Fri Jun 9 : Game 4 — Nuggets (108) vs Heat (95) (ABC)
  • Mon Jun 12 : Game 5 — Heat (89) vs Nuggets (94) (ABC)
  • Thu Jun 15 : Game 6 — Nuggets vs Heat (ABC)
  • Sun Jun 18 : Game 7 — Heat vs. Nuggets (ABC)

Can I watch the NBA Playoffs with the NBA League Pass?

No. The NBA League Pass is a great way to get as many non-local games as possible (local games will be televised on your local station), but it doesn’t stream any nationally televised games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV — and that includes the playoffs.

How can I watch individual NBA teams without cable?

We’ve written guides for all the teams. Take your pick:

AtlanticPacificCentralSWSENW
Boston CelticsGolden State WarriorsChicago BullsDallas MavericksAtlanta HawksDenver Nuggets
Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles ClippersCleveland CavaliersHouston RocketsCharlotte HornetsMinnesota Timberwolves
New York KnicksLos Angeles LakersDetroit PistonsMemphis GrizzliesMiami HeatOklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ersPhoenix SunsIndiana PacersNew Orleans PelicansOrlando MagicPortland Trail Blazers
Toronto RaptorsSacramento KingsMilwaukee BucksSan Antonio SpursWashington WizardsUtah Jazz

Page Updates

  1. Updated for 2024 playoffs.

  2. Added sub-section. Various changes to content. Reformatting.

  3. Added sub-section. More links. Formatting changes.

  4. Formatting changes. Misc changes.

  5. Added useful links. Misc changes to content. Formatting changes.

  6. Added buttons for streaming services. Updated some sub-sections. Updated some section headings. More links. Removed section.

  7. Added new section. Image changes. More links. Reworded some things.

  8. Added VPN info. Added buttons for streaming services. Added some links. Changed a few bits of content.

  9. Added sub-section. Updated some sub-sections. Put related links. Pricing updates.

Frank Moraes
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