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.
Table Of Contents
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.
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:
- NBA Play-In: April 16th – 19th
- NBA Playoffs First Round: April 20th – May 5th
- NBA Playoffs Semifinals: May 6th – 30th
- NBA Finals: June 1st – 23rd
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+.
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
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.
Date | Time (ET) | Teams | TV |
---|---|---|---|
Tue Apr 16 | 7:30 pm | Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans | TNT |
Tue Apr 16 | 10:00 pm | Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings | TNT |
Wed Apr 17 | 7:30 pm | Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers | ESPN/ESPN2 |
Wed Apr 17 | 10:05 pm | Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls | ESPN |
Fri Apr 19 | 7:40 pm | Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat | ESPN |
Fri Apr 19 | 9:30 pm | New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings | TNT |
Sat Apr 20 | 1:00 pm | Magic vs Cavaliers | ESPN |
Sat Apr 20 | 3:30 pm | Suns vs Timberwolves | ESPN |
Sat Apr 20 | 6:00 pm | 76ers vs Knicks | ESPN |
Sat Apr 20 | 8:30 pm | Lakers vs Nuggets | ABC |
Sun Apr 21 | 1:00 pm | Heat vs Celtics | ABC |
Sun Apr 21 | 3:30 pm | Mavericks vs Clippers | ABC |
Sun Apr 21 | 7:00 pm | Pacers vs Bucks | TNT |
Sun Apr 21 | 9:30 pm | Pelicans vs Thunder | TNT |
Mon Apr 22 | 7:00 pm | Magic vs Cavaliers | NBA TV |
Mon Apr 22 | 7:30 pm | 76ers vs Knicks | TNT |
Mon Apr 22 | 10:00 pm | Lakers vs Nuggets | TNT |
Tue Apr 23 | 7:30 pm | Suns vs Timberwolves | TNT |
Tue Apr 23 | 8:30 pm | Pacers vs Bucks | NBA TV |
Tue Apr 23 | 10:00 pm | Mavericks vs Clippers | TNT |
Wed Apr 24 | 7:00 pm | Heat vs Celtics | TNT |
Wed Apr 24 | 9:30 pm | Pelicans vs Thunder | TNT |
Thu Apr 25 | 7:00 pm | Cavaliers vs Magic | NBA TV |
Thu Apr 25 | 7:30 pm | Knicks vs 76ers | TNT |
Thu Apr 25 | 10:00 pm | Nuggets vs Lakers | TNT |
Fri Apr 26 | 5:30 pm | Bucks vs Pacers | ESPN |
Fri Apr 26 | 8:00 pm | Clippers vs Mavericks | ESPN |
Fri Apr 26 | 10:30 pm | Timberwolves vs Suns | ESPN |
Sat Apr 27 | 1:00 pm | Cavaliers vs Magic | TNT |
Sat Apr 27 | 3:30 pm | Thunder vs Pelicans | TNT |
Sat Apr 27 | 6:00 pm | Celtics vs Heat | TNT |
Sat Apr 27 | 8:30 pm | Nuggets vs Lakers | ABC |
Sun Apr 28 | 1:00 pm | Knicks vs 76ers | ABC |
Sun Apr 28 | 3:30 pm | Clippers vs Mavericks | ABC |
Sun Apr 28 | 7:00 pm | Bucks vs Pacers | TNT |
Sun Apr 28 | 9:30 pm | Timberwolves vs Suns | TNT |
Mon Apr 29 | TBD | Celtics vs Heat | |
Mon Apr 29 | TBD | Lakers vs Nuggets | |
Mon Apr 29 | TBD | Thunder vs Pelicans | |
Tue Apr 30 | 7:00 pm | 76ers vs Knicks | TNT |
Tue Apr 30 | 8:00 pm | Magic vs Cavaliers | NBA TV |
Tue Apr 30 | 9:30 pm | Pacers vs Bucks | TNT |
Wed May 1 | 7:30 pm | Heat vs Celtics | TNT |
Wed May 1 | 10:00 pm | Mavericks vs Clippers | TNT |
Sat May 4 | 7:00 pm | Timberwolves vs Nuggets | TNT/truTV |
Sun May 5 | 1:00 pm | Magic vs Cavaliers† | |
Mon May 6 | 7:30 pm | Pacers vs Knicks | TNT/truTV |
Mon May 6 | 10:00 pm | Timberwolves vs Nuggets | TNT/truTV |
Tue May 7 | 7:00 pm | Cavaliers vs Celtics | TNT/truTV |
Tue May 7 | 9:30 pm | Mavericks vs Thunder | TNT/truTV |
Wed May 8 | 8:00 pm | Pacers vs Knicks | TNT/truTV |
Thu May 9 | 7:00 pm | Cavaliers vs Celtics | ESPN |
Thu May 9 | 9:30 pm | Mavericks vs Thunder | ESPN |
Fri May 10 | 7:00 pm | Knicks vs Pacers | ESPN |
Fri May 10 | 9:30 pm | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | ESPN |
Sat May 11 | 3:30 pm | Thunder vs Mavericks | ABC |
Sat May 11 | 8:30 pm | Celtics vs Cavaliers | ABC |
Sun May 12 | 3:00 pm | NBA Draft Lottery | ABC |
Sun May 12 | 3:30 pm | Knicks vs Pacers | ABC |
Sun May 12 | 8:30 pm | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | TNT |
Mon May 13 | 7:00 pm | Celtics vs Cavaliers | TNT/truTV |
Mon May 13 | 9:30 pm | Thunder vs Mavericks | TNT/truTV |
Tue May 14 | 8:00 pm | Pacers vs Knicks | TNT |
Tue May 14 | 10:30 pm | Timberwolves vs Nuggets | TNT |
Wed May 15 | 7:00 pm | Cavaliers vs Celtics | TNT |
Wed May 15 | 9:30 pm | Mavericks vs Thunder | TNT |
Thu May 16 | 8:30 pm | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | ESPN |
Fri May 17 | TBD | Knicks vs Pacers | ESPN |
Fri May 17 | 8:30 pm | Celtics vs Cavaliers | ESPN |
Sat May 18 | 8:30 pm | Thunder vs Mavericks | ESPN |
Sun May 19 | 3:30 pm | Pacers vs Knicks | ABC |
Sun May 19 | 8:00 pm | Timberwolves vs Nuggets | TNT |
Tue May 21 | 8:00 pm | Pacers vs Celtics | ESPN/ESPN2 |
Wed May 22 | 8:30 pm | Mavericks vs Timberwolves | TNT/truTV |
Thu May 23 | 8:00 pm | Pacers vs Celtics | ESPN |
Fri May 24 | 8:30 pm | Mavericks vs Timberwolves | TNT/truTV |
Sat May 25 | 8:30 pm | Celtics vs Pacers | ABC |
Sun May 26 | 8:00 pm | Timberwolves vs Mavericks | TNT/truTV |
Mon May 27 | 8:00 pm | Celtics vs Pacers | ESPN/ESPN2 |
Tue May 28 | 8:30 pm | Timberwolves vs Mavericks | TNT/truTV |
Thu May 30 | 8:30 pm | Mavericks vs Timberwolves | TNT |
Thu Jun 6 | 8:30 pm | Mavericks vs Celtics | ABC |
Sun Jun 9 | 8:00 pm | Mavericks vs Celtics | ABC |
Wed Jun 12 | 8:30 pm | Celtics vs Mavericks | ABC |
Fri Jun 14 | 8:30 pm | Celtics vs Mavericks | ABC |
Mon Jun 17 | 8:30 pm | Mavericks vs Celtics‡ | ABC |
Thu Jun 20 | 8:30 pm | Celtics vs Mavericks‡ | ABC |
Sun Jun 23 | 8:00 pm | Mavericks 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):
Eastern
‡ 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.
- Team 8 at Team 7
- Winner: go to playoffs
- Loser: go to Step 3
- Team 10 at Team 9
- Winner: go to Step 3
- Loser: see you next season
- Step 2 Winner at Step 1 Loser
- Winner: go to playoffs
- Loser: see you next season.
What were the 2023 NBA playoff teams?
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Central Division
Southeast Division
Western Conference
Northwest Division
Pacific Division
Southwest Division
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
- Toronto Raptors (0-1)
- Chicago Bulls (1-1)
- Miami Heat (1-1)
- Atlanta Hawks (1-0)
Playoff Results
First Round
- Miami Heat (4) vs Milwaukee Bucks (1)
- Atlanta Hawks (2) vs Boston Celtics (4)
- New Jersey Nets (0) vs Philadelphia 76ers (4)
- New York Knicks (4) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (1)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (1) vs Denver Nuggets (4)
- Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs Memphis Grizzlies (2)
- Golden State Warriors (4) vs Sacramento Kings (3)
- Los Angeles Clippers (1) vs Phoenix Suns (4)
Second Round
- Miami Heat (4) vs New York Knicks (2)
- Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs Boston Celtics (4)
- Phoenix Suns (2) vs Denver Nuggets (4)
- Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs Golden State Warriors (2)
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:
Page Updates ▼▲
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