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With the 2025-26 NBA regular season wrapped up, basketball fans have geared up for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, kicking off April 18th. Whether you're following your Conference Finals contenders or holding out for the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026, you'll want to make sure you have a way to watch every game.
No matter if you live in the U.S., plan to watch from abroad, or will be traveling at the end of the season, you may be wondering how to watch the NBA Final Four and NBA Finals from anywhere. Cable subscribers can flick the channel to ABC, ESPN, or NBC, but cord-cutters may need a different way to watch.
Various streaming services, including Sling, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max, all offer NBA playoff games on their respective platforms. Here, we’ll give you options for watching from anywhere in the world and some helpful tips for beating geo-restrictions.
Read on to learn how to watch the NBA playoffs from anywhere.
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Streaming makes watching sports live much more accessible, but choosing the right streaming service can come down to price and features.
Sling TV is the most affordable option for budget-conscious viewers, while services like Hulu + Live TV can give you access to the services you may have missed since ditching cable. Check out our top streaming service recommendations below.
Note: The NBA postseason will be split across three broadcast partners: ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video.
| Platform | Price | Channels |
| Sling TV | $45.99/mo | Sling Orange, Sling Orange + NBA League Pass, Sling Orange + Sports Extra |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99/mo | TNT, TruTV, ABC, ESPN, and more, but blackouts depend on your region |
| YouTube TV | $67.99/mo for first three months, $82.99/mo after | ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, TNT, and more |
| FuboTV | $29.98/mo | Playoff Central |
| DirecTV Stream | $15.00/mo | Choice plan includes specialty sports channels like NBA TV and regional sports networks |
| Max | $18.49/mo | Standard and Premium plans include live sports and TNT |
| Peacock | $10.99/mo | NBC |
Sling TV is the most economical option for watching the NBA and offers three plans: Orange, Blue, and Orange + Blue. Channels and viewing options vary by plan, with the Orange + Blue option offering the most. Anyone wanting to watch the NBA playoffs will need at least the Orange option.
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There are legal ways to watch the NBA playoffs in the U.K. — via the NBA League Pass or Discovery+ with TNT Sports. These streaming platforms have the rights to broadcast the NBA in the United Kingdom.
| Platform | Price | Channels |
| NBA League Pass | £16.99/mo | N/A |
| TNT Sports & Discovery+ | £20/mo | TNT Sports |
The easiest and best ways to stream the NBA playoffs in Canada are through the TSN App or Sportsnet Now.
| Platform | Price | Channels |
| TSN app | $19.99/mo | App |
| Sportsnet Now | $24.99/mo | App |
If you are locked out of watching the NBA playoffs due to geo-restrictions, a VPN can help you mask your location. VPNs can change your IP address so you appear to be somewhere you aren’t, like in the United States, to watch the NBA playoffs.
NordVPN is a top choice because it includes several extras, such as Threat Protection and a dedicated IP address. It’s also fast and reliable, providing users with quality protection and performance.
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The 2025-26 NBA regular season ended on April 12, with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament running April 14 through April 17, followed by the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 18. Conference Finals matchups and dates will be confirmed as the postseason progresses — check back for updates.
The Play-In Tournament (April 14–17) determined the final four seeds: the Philadelphia 76ers (7th East), Orlando Magic (8th East), Portland Trail Blazers (7th West), and Phoenix Suns (8th West).
| Conference | NBA playoff matchup | Series result |
| Eastern | Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic | Pistons win series 4-3 |
| Eastern | Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers | 76ers win series 4-3 |
| Eastern | New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks | Knicks win series 4-2 |
| Eastern | Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors | Cavaliers win series 4-3 |
| Western | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns | Thunder wins series 4-0 |
| Western | San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers | Spurs win series 4-1 |
| Western | Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Timberwolves win series 4-2 |
| Western | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets | Lakers win series 4-2 |
The Conference Semifinals tipped off May 4, following the conclusion of the first round. Games 5–7 are if-necessary.
| Game | Matchup | Date & time (ET) | Channel | Result |
| Game 1 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Mon, May 4, 8:00pm | ESPN | Knicks W 137–98 |
| Game 1 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Mon, May 4, 9:30pm | NBC/Peacock | Timberwolves W 104–102 |
| Game 1 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Tue, May 5, 7:00pm | NBC/Peacock | Pistons W 111–101 |
| Game 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Tue, May 5, 8:30pm | NBC/Peacock | Thunder W 108–90 |
| Game 2 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Wed, May 6, 7:00pm | ESPN | Knicks W 108-102 |
| Game 2 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Wed, May 6, 9:30pm | ESPN | Spurs W 133-95 |
| Game 2 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Thu, May 7, 7:00pm | Prime Video | Pistons W 107-97 |
| Game 2 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Thu, May 7, 9:30pm | Prime Video | Thunder W 125-107 |
| Game 3 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Fri, May 8, 7:00pm | Prime Video | Knicks W 108-94 |
| Game 3 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Fri, May 8, 9:30pm | Prime Video | Spurs W 115-108 |
| Game 3 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Sat, May 9, 3:00pm | NBC/Peacock | |
| Game 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Sat, May 9, 8:30pm | ABC | |
| Game 4 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Sun, May 10, 3:30pm | ABC | |
| Game 4 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Sun, May 10, 7:30pm | NBC/Peacock | |
| Game 4 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Mon, May 11, 8:00pm | NBC/Peacock | |
| Game 4 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Mon, May 11, 10:30pm | Prime Video | |
| Game 5 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Tue, May 12 | TBD | |
| Game 5 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Tue, May 12 | TBD | |
| Game 5 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Wed, May 13 | TBD | |
| Game 5 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Wed, May 13 | TBD | |
| Game 6 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Thu, May 14 | TBD | |
| Game 6 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Fri, May 15 | TBD | |
| Game 6 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Fri, May 15 | TBD | |
| Game 6 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Sat, May 16 | TBD | |
| Game 7 | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Sun, May 17 | TBD | |
| Game 7 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Sun, May 17 | TBD | |
| Game 7 | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Sun, May 17 | TBD | |
| Game 7 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Mon, May 18 | TBD |
The Conference Semifinals tipped off May 4, following the conclusion of the first round. All four series are currently underway.
| Conference | NBA playoff matchup | Series status |
| Eastern | Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | In progress (Pistons lead 1–0) |
| Eastern | New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers | In progress (Knicks lead 1–0) |
| Western | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | In progress (Thunder lead 1–0) |
| Western | San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | In progress (Timberwolves lead 1–0) |
| Conference | NBA playoff games | 2026 Dates (All times Eastern) | Channel |
| Western Conference Finals Game 1 |
TBD | May 20 (TBD time) | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 |
TBD | May 19 (TBD time) | TBD |
| Western Conference Finals Game 2 |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Western Conference Finals Game 3 |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Western Conference Finals Game 4 |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Western Conference Finals Game 5 |
TBD | TBD (if necessary) | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 |
TBD | TBD (if necessary) | TBD |
| Western Conference Finals Game 6 |
TBD | TBD (if necessary) | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 |
TBD | TBD (if necessary) | TBD |
| Western Conference Finals Game 7 |
TBD | TBD (if necessary) | TBD |
| Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 |
TBD | TBD (if necessary) | TBD |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 1: TBD | June 3rd @ 8:30 P.M. | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 2: TBD | June 5th @ 8:30 P.M. | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 3: TBD | June 8th @ 8:30 P.M. | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 4: TBD | June 10th @ 8:30 P.M. | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 5: TBD | June 13th @ 8:30 P.M. (if necessary) | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 6: TBD | June 16th @ 8:30 P.M. (if necessary) | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
| NBA Finals 2026 | Game 7: TBD | June 19th @ 8:30 P.M. (if necessary) | Presented by YouTube TV on ABC |
The 2025-26 NBA season kicked off on October 21, 2025, and runs through April 2026. There are 82 games and 30 participating teams.
Use our directory below to catch all NBA games across the country this season.
You can watch NBA games on several streaming platforms, including Sling, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max. You can stream the NBA playoff games right through to the Finals on all of these platforms without signing up for an additional subscription to a specific channel.
For anyone not located in a geographical area that gets the games, the best VPNs can help you catch every NBA buzz-beater live.
The NBA playoff games start on April 18th, so getting your subscriptions and software in place now will give you time to ensure uninterrupted access to your favorite teams.
In the U.S., the best streaming service to watch the NBA is Sling TV because of its package pricing and accessibility. Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max also carry the NBA playoff games.
You do not need ESPN+ to watch the NBA playoffs if you have a streaming service like Sling or Hulu + Live TV, as well as the others mentioned above. If you want ESPN+, you can also watch the NCAA games along with the NBA playoffs.
You can purchase an additional NBA League Pass subscription through Amazon Prime Video to watch the NBA playoffs.
You can stream the NBA playoffs on Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max.
Stream live sports, news, and entertainment; save potentially hundreds per year versus competitors1
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