Stream NBA Cheaper Than Cable Online + Never Miss a Game This Basketball Season

I’m ready to watch the 2023-24 NBA regular season when it tips off on October 24th. With all the national and regional sports networks (RSNs) available through streaming services, I won’t have to miss a single game this season.

In a hurry? If you just want to start the new NBA season right, these are your best options:

Fubo

Known for its outstanding sports coverage, Fubo’s 150+ live TV channels provide a broad selection that appeals to most people. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

DIRECTV STREAM

The king of RSNs, this is the streaming service for MLB, NBA, and NHL fans with its Choice Plan! New customers get a 5-day free trial with DIRECTV STREAM.

Hulu Live

Get 95+ live TV channels along with the Hulu Bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+! Try it today with a free trial.

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 $4.99/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.

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.

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 2023?

You sure can. It’s now easier than ever to watch NBA games without cable. In the guide below, we’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.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

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:

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

NBA Playoffs

The NBA regular season ends on April 14, 2024. The Play-In games start on April 16th with the regular playoffs beginning on April 20th. The conference semifinals start May 6th and the NBA finals run from June 6th through June 23rd (if necessary).

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.

For complete information, see our NBA Play-In Tournament guide and NBA Playoffs Viewer’s Guide.

How to Watch NBA Online Without Cable: At a Glance

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 our top recommendations for NBA streaming services:

• Fubo: Has most of the national channels that feature NBA as well as a good 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 85+ 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 $40.00/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. See our Play-In and Playoffs guides for more info.
• 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. We’ll explain more in the guide below.

Using Live TV Streaming Services to Watch NBA Online

If you’re new to the world of cable-free viewing, you may be unsure of your options. If you’re looking for a complete cable TV alternative, a good choice is to get a live TV streaming service.

These services, such as Fubo, offer a package of TV channels to watch live. You’ll get a broad selection of networks, covering everything from live sports to news to entertainment. You can get anywhere from 30 to 100+ channels, depending on which package you choose. Essentially, they function a lot like a cable package.

The difference? Price, and flexibility.

Sling TV starts as low as $40.00/month for 40+ channels while Fubo is $79.99/month for well over 150 channels.

Flexibility is also a big plus. These services are contract-free, so you are able to cancel at any time without penalty.

These streaming options work over the internet. You will need a solid internet connection in order to use them. You will also need a compatible device. But if you are reading this, you almost certainly already have both. (See below for the many supported devices and TVs.)

Once you’re signed up for a service, watching NBA online is as easy as tuning in at game time. Keep reading for the specific services we recommend for online NBA streaming.

Fubo for Local NBA Coverage Almost Everywhere

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) started as a sports-oriented streaming service and has grown into one of the best all-around streaming services with a great live sports selection. The only major NBA channel that it is missing is TNT. And to get NBA Network, you will need to get the Fubo Extra add-on for $7.99/mo. But that gives you over 150 channels.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

In addition, Fubo has a good selection of RSNs — in fact, it covers every team except the Nets, Lakers, and Raptors.

If you aren’t in one of these areas and still want to access your local regional sports network, see DIRECTV STREAM — it’s more expensive but worth it.

In addition to the channels NBA games are featured on, Fubo offers an amazing sports selection. Of its over 150 channel selection, over one-third are sports-oriented. But it also has more than enough other channels to please the whole household.

See our thorough Fubo review for all the details.

DIRECTV STREAM: Top RSN Provider

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) offers the Choice plan for $114.99/month. So it’s more expensive than the other plans discussed here. But it’s also a dream come true for NBA fans.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

This plan includes all of the national channels you want to watch NBA games. But it also comes with the regional sports networks (RSNs) in your area. If your area is supported by one of the teams listed above under Fubo, you should go with it because it’s cheaper. But if you are a local fan of any of the other teams, DIRECTV STREAM has you covered.

Note that these RSNs also cover MLB and NHL. So DIRECTV STREAM provides the whole package. For more details, see our DIRECTV STREAM review.

NBA League Pass: Watch All Out-of-Market Games

NBA League Pass is the official streaming service of the NBA. Unlike the other options we’ve discussed, NBA League Pass is only useful for watching NBA without cable. You won’t get any other entertainment options.

Try NBA League Pass Free!

To add to that, League Pass comes with severe blackouts for local teams. Basically, you can’t watch your local NBA team(s) on League Pass because they will be blacked out. You also can’t watch any nationally broadcast basketball games. (You can watch blacked-out games after the fact, but it usually takes 3 days to gain access.)

NBA League Pass is available as an add-on for the same price through Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM.

Thus, the service is most useful for fans who don’t live near their favorite teams — a Lakers fan living in Denver, for example.

Here’s the scoop:

• Best for hardcore NBA fans — ideally those who don’t live near their favorite teams
• Only good for NBA streaming – no other content or channels included
• $14.99/mo or $99.99/year ($89.99/yr for Team Pass)
• You can purchase a single game pass to test the service out
• Watch live games for out-of-market teams
• Live NBA games for local teams are blacked out
• Three-day wait to watch game replays on-demand
• Relive epic NBA moments with a huge on-demand library
• Choose from condensed or full-game replays
• Watch up to 4 games at once with Mosaic View

Basically, we recommend League Pass for two types of people: (1) NBA fans who live far away from their favorite teams and (2) NBA fans who don’t mind waiting for replays after the game. Beyond these groups, the blackouts are a problem.

But for some people, League Pass represents a good way to watch basketball without cable TV. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but for hardcore fans, the special features and ability to watch out-of-market teams may be worthwhile.

Hulu + Live TV: Great Overall Streaming Service for NBA Fans

One of the best methods to get an NBA live stream without cable is to use Hulu + Live TV. It supplies all the channels you’ll need for NBA (excluding NBA TV), and offers some of the best coverage of local teams and local sports networks.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Hulu Live TV is an affordable cable TV alternative that gives you over 85 great channels to watch live. It’s easy to use, works on most devices, and is far cheaper than many alternatives. Here’s the scoop:

• Ideal for anyone who wants live and on-demand entertainment
• Over 85 channels to watch live
• $82.99/month
• No contract or commitment
• Get NBA streaming channels like ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, local channels, and some regional sports networks
• Watch your favorite local team and many nationally broadcast NBA games, including Christmas Day games, as well as events like the NBA Draft
• A great way to watch sports without cable
• Comes with free access to a HUGE on-demand library as well as ESPN+ and Disney+.

Hulu + Live TV comes highly recommended because it’s a one-stop-shop for all your entertainment. The 85+ live TV channels cover almost everything you’ll need, and the on-demand library means that you’ll always have something to watch.

For more information, check out our Hulu + Live TV review.

Other Options for Streaming NBA Without Cable

There are other ways to stream the NBA without being a cable subscriber. Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, and League Pass are our top recommendations depending on your needs. But here are some others to consider:

• Sling TV: Highly customizable plans from $40.00/month that offer ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, NBA TV, TNT and more. See our Sling TV review for more information, or our guide to watching nationally televised NBA games on Sling TV (including the ones on Christmas Day!)
• YouTube TV: Similar to Hulu + Live TV, it’s $82.99/month plan offers ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV, TNT, and more.

Watch the NBA Online Internationally

While there are multiple options for watching the NBA online depending on where you live, we recommend you check out ExpressVPN (Black Friday deal details). 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.

2023-24 NBA Schedule

See the individual team pages for a complete list of games and channels. Out-of-market games can be watched on NBA League Pass. In-market games can be watched on the team’s RSN.

Here are nationally televised games:

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – the best ways to get an NBA live stream without cable. We hope this guide was helpful. Do note that there is no real way to follow the NBA season for free. You can watch some games on ABC through an antenna. Otherwise, you can watch highlights on the league’s website.

For further information, check out our guide on how to watch sports online. We explain all the different ways to get rid of cable while still watching the TV you love without spending a fortune. And if you want to catch the G League, read our guide on how to watch NBA G League online.

Fubo is our top choice for watching most NBA teams. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

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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