How to watch every game of the 2024 NBA Playoffs
The 2024 NBA postseason is in full swing, but figuring out how and when to watch your favorite teams and players play in the playoffs can take some serious detective work. If you don't have a cable subscription, or your cable company doesn't carry all the channels airing the NBA Playoffs, you're going to miss some of the NBA's biggest moments this season if you don't tune into the right streaming platform covering your favorite games.
We found the best sports streaming platforms to give you the most access to the most NBA playoff games this season. Keep reading so you don't miss out on all the terrific basketball happening now.
When are the NBA Playoffs?
The 2024 NBA Playoffs will be played starting April 20 - May 22, 2024.
How to watch the NBA Playoffs with cable
The 2024 NBA Playoffs will air on TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV, Some in-market games will air on your area's local affiliate.
How to watch NBA playoffs games this season without cable
If you don't have a cable subscription, or your cable company doesn't offer some of the channels airing the NBA Playoffs, you can stream the playoffs on one of the live TV streaming platforms listed below. To watch every game on one streaming platform, you'll need a subscription to SlingTV.
Sling TV: The only way to stream every NBA playoff game live
If you don't have cable TV that includes ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBATV one of the most cost-effective ways to stream the NBA Playoffs this year, and still get access to local programming, is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer offers access to 46 channels, including TNT and ESPN, plus local ABC affiliates (where available) with its Orange + Blue Tier plan. Add the Sling TV Sports Extra package to access games airing on NBA TV for $11 per month.
Sling TV is currently offering $25 off every pricing tier. The Sling Orange + Blue tier is regularly priced at $60 per month, but you'll pay just $35 for the first month of service. You can learn more by tapping the button below.
Note: Because SlingTV does not carry CBS, you won't be able to watch every NFL game next season with a SlingTV subscription. To watch most NBA Playoff games, plus every network-aired NFL game next season, we suggest a subscription to Hulu + Live TV.
Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue tier:
- There are 46 channels to watch in total, including local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
- You get access to most local NBA and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage, perfect for recording all the biggest games of the season.
- With Sling TV Orange, you'll get access to all the NBA games you want to watch, plus network programs airing on NBC, ABC, Fox and more. It's the most cost-effective way to watch every NBA playoff game this season.
Watch the NBA Playoffs free on Fubo
You can catch the 2024 NBA Playoffs live on FuboTV. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to playoff games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBA TV. Packages include your local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates, ESPN, NBC, the NFL Network and more, so you'll be able to watch more than just the 2024 NBA Playoffs, all without a cable subscription.
To watch the NBA Playoffs without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to NBA basketball, you'll have access to NFL football, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. Fubo's Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial. To watch every NBA playoff game, add on the $7.99 per month Fubo Extra package, which includes NBA TV, in addition to MLB Network, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, SEC Network and more channels with live games. Or upgrade to the Fubo Elite tier and get all the Fubo Extra channels, plus the ability to stream in 4K, starting at $90 per month.
Note: Because Fubo doesn't carry TNT, you won't be able to watch playoff games airing on TNT. To stream every NBA playoff game on one platform, you'll need a subscription to SlingTV.
Top features of FuboTV Pro Tier:
- There are no contracts with Fubo -- you can cancel at any time.
- You can watch sporting events such as Super Bowl LVIII up to 72 hours after they air with Fubo Lookback.
- The Pro tier includes 186 channels, including NFL Network. (You'll need to upgrade to Ultimate for NFL RedZone.)
- Fubo includes all the channels you'll need to watch college and pro football, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
- All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
- Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.
Watch the 2024 NBA Playoffs free on Hulu + Live TV
You can watch the NBA with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including ESPN, TNT and ABC, so you'll be able to catch most NBA playoff games, while still being able to watch local network programming. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every local and nationally televised NBA game on every network this season with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch NFL games next season.
Note: Hulu + Live TV doesn't offer NBA TV. Because a small number of NBA playoff games will air this year on NBA TV, you'll need a subscription to Sling TV or Fubo to watch those games live.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+. It's priced at $77 after a three-day free trial.
NBA League Pass: Watch the NBA Playoffs on demand for free
If you want to catch the NBA Playoffs, NBA League Pass allows you to watch games airing on ABC, ESPN and TNT on demand three hours after the game. To catch games airing on NBA TV, level up your League Pass coverage to the Team Pass.
During the regular NBA season, NBA League Pass allows you to watch out-of-market games live and on-demand, plus get round the clock NBA TV coverage. With an upgraded NBA League Pass Premium subscription, you get everything included in the NBA League Pass, plus you'll be able to stream live and on-demand games on up to three different devices at a time -- and get access to the in-arena stream for the game of your choice.
NBA League Pass is currently priced at $15 per month. NBA League Pass Premium costs $23 per month. A Team Pass subscription is $13.99 per month. NBA League Pass offers a seven-day free trial.
Note: NBA League Pass has some blackout games, which means certain local games and all nationally broadcast games will be available three hours after the live broadcast. All subscription tiers include access to live radio broadcasts of all NBA games.
What is the NBA app?
The NBA app is a terrific companion for die hard basketball fans who want to stay up to date on the latest scores. You'll be able to download the NBA app on your phone or mobile device and get the latest news, stories and highlights of what's happening in the league now. You can find the NBA app on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
2024 NBA Playoffs: Round 1 schedule
The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs will started April 20.
First round schedule
Below are the dates, times and networks airing each game of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. All times Eastern.
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Miami Heat
• Game 1: Heat vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 21 (1 p.m. ET on ABC) Celtics 114-94
• Game 2: Heat vs. Celtics; Wednesday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 3: Celtics vs. Heat; Saturday, April 27 (6 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 4: Celtics vs. Heat; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5: Heat vs. Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics vs. Heat; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Heat vs. Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
• Game 1: 76ers vs. Knicks; Saturday, April 20 (6 p.m. ET on ESPN) Knicks 111-104
• Game 2: 76ers vs. Knicks; Monday, April 22 (7:30 p.m. on TNT, TruTV) Knicks 104-101
• Game 3: Knicks vs. 76ers; Thursday, April 25 (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 4: Knicks vs. 76ers; Sunday, April 28 (1 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 5: 76ers vs. Knicks; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Knicks vs. 76ers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: 76ers vs. Knicks; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers
• Game 1: Pacers vs. Bucks; Sunday, April 21 (7 p.m. on TNT, TruTV) Bucks 109-94
• Game 2: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 23 (8:30 p.m. on NBA TV) Pacers 125-108
• Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers; Friday, April 26 (5:30 p.m. on ESPN)
• Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers; Sunday, April 28 (7 p.m. on TNT)
• Game 5: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Bucks vs. Pacers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pacers vs. Bucks; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Orlando
• Game 1: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Saturday, April 20 (1 p.m. on ESPN) Cavaliers 97-83
• Game 2: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Monday, April 22 (7 p.m. on NBA TV) Cavaliers 96-86
• Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Thursday, April 25 (7 p.m. on NBA TV)
• Game 4: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Saturday, April 27 (1 p.m. on TNT)
• Game 5: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Cavaliers vs. Magic; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Magic vs. Cavaliers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
• Game 1: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Sunday, April 21 (9:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV) OKC 94-92
• Game 2: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, April 24 (9:30 p.m. on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 3: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Saturday, April 27 (3:30 p.m. on TNT)
• Game 4: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5: Pelicans vs. Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Thunder vs. Pelicans; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pelicans vs. Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
• Game 1: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Saturday, April 20 (8 p.m. on ABC) Nuggets 114-103
• Game 2: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 22 (10 p.m. on Spectrum Sportsnet+) Nuggets 101-99
• Game 3: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Thursday, April 25 (10 p.m. on Spectrum Sportsnet+)
• Game 4: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Saturday, April 27 (8:30 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Nuggets vs. Lakers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Lakers vs. Nuggets; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
= If necessary
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
- Game 1: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, April 20 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Timberwolves 120-95
- Game 2: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Friday, April 26 (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Sunday, April 28 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Game 5: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
- Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)*
- Game 7: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, May 4 (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(4) LA Clippers vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
• Game 1: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, April 21 (3:30 p.m. on ABC) Clippers 109-97
• Game 2: Mavericks vs. Clippers, Tuesday, April 23 (10 p.m. on Clippervision)
• Game 3: Clippers vs. Mavericks, Friday, April 26 (8 p.m. on Clippervision)
• Game 4: Clippers vs. Mavericks, Sunday, April 28 (3:30 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 5: Mavericks vs. Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Clippers vs. Mavericks, TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Mavericks vs. Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
Conference semifinals schedule
The conference semifinals will begin May 6-7, but can move up to May 4-5 if the prior round's series ends early.
Conference finals schedule
The conference finals will begin May 21-22, but can move up to May 19-20 if the prior round's series ends early.
NBA Finals schedule
The 2024 NBA Finals will begin on June 6, airing on ABC.
- Sunday, June 9: Game 2
- Wednesday, June 12: Game 3
- Friday, June 14: Game 4
- Monday, June 17: Game 5 (if necessary)
- Thursday, June 20: Game 6 (if necessary)
- Sunday, June 23: Game 7 (if necessary)
What is the NBA app?
The NBA app is a terrific companion for die hard basketball fans who want to stay up to date on the latest scores. You'll be able to download the NBA app on your phone or mobile device and get the latest news, stories and highlights of what's happening in the league now. You can find the NBA app on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Can I watch the NBA on ESPN+?
Unfortunately, you won't be able to watch the 2024 NBA Playoffs with the ESPN+ app. ESPN+ does not include access to the ESPN network. It is a separate sports-centric service, with separate sports programming.
