It’s almost finals season.
In school, yes, but also in the NBA.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs kicked off last weekend following the play-in tournament’s conclusion — four teams “played in” to the playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers. From there, the 16-team field was set, also including the Knicks on a hot streak, and last year’s champs, the Denver Nuggets, clinching the two-seed in the west.
Now, just four rounds and 16 wins stand between one team and The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Since the games don’t air on regional sports networks like the regular season, you might be wondering where and how to catch your favorite team in the playoffs — we put together this guide to make it easier than ever to tune in.
What Channels Will the 2024 NBA Playoffs Be On?
The 2024 NBA Playoffs will air on a combination of channels, including ESPN, ABC, TNT, truTV, and NBA TV.
How to Stream the 2024 NBA Playoffs:
ESPN/ABC:
If you don’t have cable, the only way to stream the 2024 NBA Playoff games on ESPN or ABC is with alive TV streaming service, since the playoffs will not be on ESPN+. The following services include ESPN:
- DirecTV Stream– any plan, starting at $94.98/month with $10 off the first three months
- Sling TV– Orange and Blue plan, $60/month with $10 off the first month
- Hulu + Live TV– base plan, $76.99/month
- fuboTV– any plan, starting at $79.99/month
TNT/TBS/truTV:
The easiest, most cost-effective way to stream TNT or truTV games during the 2024 NBA Playoffs without cable is with a Max subscription. Max starts at $9.99/month, and all three plans currently come with the Bleacher Report Sports add-on, which you’ll need to watch these games live
You can also get all of the necessary networks for these games on the following live TV streaming services: Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV.
NBA TV
NBA TV is a separate service/channel that you’ll need for select games. NBA TV is available on DirecTV Stream for anyone subscribed to the Choice Plan or higher, Sling TV with the Orange and Blue plan with the Sports add-on ($11.99/month), and fuboTV.
You can also subscribe to NBA TV on Prime Video. You’ll need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber first, and from there, you can add NBA TV onto Prime Video for $6.99/month.
Live TV Streaming Services:
| TNT | truTV | ESPN | ABC | NBA TV | |
| DirecTV Stream Choice | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hulu + Live TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| fuboTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Sling TV (Orange + Blue) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (with Sports Extra) |
Can I Watch the 2024 NBA Playoffs for Free?
While there’s no way to stream for free the entire length of the playoffs, you can get a five-day free trial to DirecTV Stream and a seven-day free trial to fuboTV.
If you’re adding NBA TV to Prime Video, you can get seven days of that for free as well.
Playoff Bracket: What Teams Are In the 2024 NBA Playoffs?
Western Conference: Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers
Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers
2024 NBA Playoffs Key Dates:
- Playoffs Start: Saturday, April 20
- Conference Semifinals begin: May 6-7
- Conference Finals begin: May 21-22
- Start of the NBA Finals: June 6
- End of the NBA Finals: as early as June 14, as late as June 23
2024 NBA Playoffs Round One Schedule:
All times listed below are in Eastern Standard Time.
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston vs. (8) Miami
- Game 1:Celtics 114, Heat 94
- Game 2:Wednesdays, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 3: Saturday, April 27 (6 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 4:Monday, April 29 (TBD)
- Game 5:Wednesday, May 1 (TBD)*
- Game 6: Friday, May 3 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Sunday, May 5 (TBD)*
(2) New York vs. (7) Philadelphia
- Game 1:Knicks 111, 76ers 104
- Game 2:Knicks 104, 76ers 101
- Game 3:Thursday, April 25 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 4:Sunday, April 28 (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Game 5:Tuesday, April 30 (TBD)*
- Game 6: Thursday, May 2 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Saturday, May 4 (Time TBD, TNT/Max)*
(3) Milwaukee vs. (6) Indiana
- Game 1:Bucks 109, Pacers 94
- Game 2:Tuesday, April 23 (8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
- Game 3:Friday, April 26 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Game 4:Sunday, April 28 (7 ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 5:Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
- Game 6:Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)*
- Game 7:Saturday, May 4 (Time TBD, TNT/Max)*
(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Orlando
- Game 1:Cavaliers 97, Magic 83
- Game 2:Cavaliers 96, Magic 86
- Game 3:Thursday, April 25 (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
- Game 4: Saturday, April 27 (1 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 5:Tuesday, April 30 (TBD)*
- Game 6:Friday, May 3 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Sunday, May 5 (TBD)*
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) New Orleans
- Game 1:Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
- Game 2:Wednesday, April 24 (9:30 ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 3:Saturday, April 27 (3:30 ET TNT/Max)
- Game 4:Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
- Game 5:Wednesday, May 1 (TBD)*
- Game 6: Friday, May 3 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Sunday, May 5 (TBD)*
(2) Denver vs. (7) L.A. Lakers
- Game 1:Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
- Game 2:Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
- Game 3:Thursday, April 25 (10 p.m ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 4:Saturday, April 27 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Game 5:Monday, April 29 (TBD)*
- Game 6: Thursday, May 2 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Saturday, May 4 (Time TBD, TNT/Max)*
(3) Minnesota vs. (6) Phoenix
- Game 1:Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
- Game 2:Tuesday, April 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 3:Friday, April 26 (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Game 4:Sunday, April 28 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 5:Tuesday, April 30 (TBD)*
- Game 6:Thursday, May 2 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Saturday, May 4 (Time TBD, TNT/Max)*
(4) LA Clippers vs. (5) Dallas
- Game 1:Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
- Game 2:Tuesday, April 23 (10 p.m. ET, TNT/Max)
- Game 3:Friday, April 26 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Game 4:Sunday, April 28 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Game 5:Wednesday, May 1 (TBD)*
- Game 6:Friday, May 3 (TBD)*
- Game 7:Sunday, May 5 (TBD)*
* = If necessary
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