How To Watch the NBA Playoffs From Anywhere: Be Courtside from Your Couch

No matter where you watch from, you can catch all the NBA playoff games through the Finals in June if you have the right streaming service.
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Basketball fans everywhere will be gearing up for the NBA playoffs starting April 19th, 2025. Whether you live in the U.S., plan to watch from abroad, or will be traveling during the end of the season, you may be wondering how you can watch the NBA playoffs from anywhere. Cable subscribers can just flick the channel to ABC, ESPN, TNT, or NBA TV, but cord-cutters may need a different way to watch.

Various streaming services like Sling, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max all offer NBA playoff games on their respective platforms, but which will be the best for you? And what do you do if you’re geo-restricted from any platform?

Here, we’ll give you options to watch from anywhere worldwide and some helpful tips on beating geo-restrictions. Read on to learn how to watch the NBA playoffs from anywhere.

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In this article
How to watch the NBA playoffs in the U.S.
How to watch the NBA playoffs in the U.K.
How to watch the NBA playoffs in Canada
How to watch the NBA playoffs from anywhere
NBA playoffs schedule
NBA regular season schedule
FAQs
Bottom line

How to watch the NBA playoffs in the U.S.

Streaming makes watching sports live so much more accessible, but deciding which streaming service is right for you may 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.

Platform Price Channels
Sling TV $23.00/mo Sling Orange, Sling Orange + NBA League Pass, Sling Orange + Sports Extra
Hulu + Live TV $82.99/mo TNT, TruTV, ABC, ESPN, and more, but blackouts depend on your region
YouTube TV $59.99/mo (first three months) ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, TNT, and more
FuboTV $19.99/mo Playoff Central
DirecTV Stream $15.00/mo Choice plan includes specialty sports channels like NBA TV and regional sports networks
Max $16.99/mo Standard and Premium plans include live sports and TNT

How to watch on Sling TV

Sling TV is the most economical option for watching the NBA and offers three plans: Orange, Blue, and Orange + Blue. Channels and viewing options are split between the different plans, with the Orange + Blue option offering the most. Anyone wanting to watch the NBA playoffs will need at least the Orange option to watch.

Save Potentially Hundreds per Year When You Stream Live TV
Sign up for Sling TV
On Sling TV Streaming's website
Streaming Service
Sling TV Streaming
Get 50% off your first month
  • Stream live sports, news, and entertainment; save potentially hundreds per year versus competitors1
  • 400+ free live TV channels
  • Record and save live TV
  • Save up to $27.50 on your first month

How to watch the NBA playoffs in the U.K.

There are legal ways to watch the NBA playoffs in the U.K. — in the form of 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

How to watch the NBA playoffs in Canada

The easiest and best way to stream the NBA playoffs in Canada is either through the TSN App or Sportsnet Now.

Platform Price Channels
TSN app $19.99/mo App
Sportsnet Now $24.99/mo App

How to watch the NBA playoffs from anywhere

If you are locked out of watching the NBA playoffs because of geo-restrictions, a quality 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, as it includes several extras like Threat Protection and a dedicated IP address, to name a few. It’s also fast and reliable, providing users with quality protection and performance.

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NBA playoffs schedule

The NBA regular season ends on April 13, quickly followed by the NBA playoffs on April 19, 2025. The Conference semifinals tentatively begin May 5th - 6th.

Conference NBA playoff games 2025 Dates (All times Eastern) Channel
Western Conference Finals Game 1 May 20th @ 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 May 21st @ 8 p.m. TNT
Western Conference Finals Game 2 May 22nd @ 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 May 23rd @ 8 p.m. TNT
Western Conference Finals Game 3 May 24th @ 8:30 p.m. ABC
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 May 25th @ 8 p.m. TNT
Western Conference Finals Game 4 May 26th @ 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 May 27th @ 8 p.m. TNT
Western Conference Finals Game 5 May 28th @ 8:30 p.m. (if necessary) ESPN
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 May 29th @ 8 p.m. (if necessary) TNT
Western Conference Finals Game 6 May 30th @ 8:30 p.m. (if necessary) ESPN
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 May 31st @ 8 p.m. (if necessary) TNT
Western Conference Finals Game 7 June 1st @ 8 p.m. (if necessary) ESPN
Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 June 2nd @ 8 p.m. (if necessary) TNT
NBA Finals 2025 June 5th @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC
NBA Finals 2025 June 8th @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC
NBA Finals 2025 June 11th @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC
NBA Finals 2025 June 13th @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC
NBA Finals 2025 June 16th @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC
NBA Finals 2025 June 19th @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC
NBA Finals 2025 June 22nd @ TBD Presented by YouTube TV on ABC

NBA regular season schedule

The 2024-25 NBA season kicked off in October 2024 and runs through April 2025. There are 82 games and 30 participating teams.

Use our directory below to catch all NBA games across the country this season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors
Central Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast Atlanta Hawks Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards

Western Conference

Northwest Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz
Pacific Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings
Southwest Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs

FAQs

What streaming service is best to watch the NBA?

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.

Do you need ESPN+ to watch the NBA playoffs?

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.

How do I watch the NBA playoffs on Amazon Prime?

You can purchase an additional NBA League Pass subscription through Amazon Prime Video to watch the NBA playoffs.

Where can I stream the NBA playoffs?

You can stream the NBA playoffs on Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max.

Bottom line

You can watch the NBA playoffs on several streaming platforms, including Sling, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Max. You can stream the 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 April 19th, so getting your subscriptions and software together now will give you time to ensure uninterrupted access to your favorite teams.

Save Potentially Hundreds per Year When You Stream Live TV
Sign up for Sling TV
On Sling TV Streaming's website
Streaming Service
Sling TV Streaming
Get 50% off your first month
  • Stream live sports, news, and entertainment; save potentially hundreds per year versus competitors1
  • 400+ free live TV channels
  • Record and save live TV
  • Save up to $27.50 on your first month
Author Details
Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.