How to Watch 2026 NBA Playoffs Online: Livestream Basketball Games

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At the end of 2025-26 NBA regular seasonthe top 16 teams in the league will compete to lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. There is a lot of star power going into the playoffs – including Donovan Mitchell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokić, Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama and others – but only one team can win it all time.

the NBA The playoffs season begins on Saturday, Apr. 18, while the postseason ends with the NBA Finals on Friday, June 19 — when the championship series goes seven games.

At a Glance: Watch 2026 NBA Playoffs Live Online

Ratings for the NBA have grown over the past year since the league moved games from cable TV with TNT to network broadcast television with NBC, as the The NBA All-Star Game drew nearly 9 million viewers back in February, a 15-year high.

Additionally, last season’s NBA Finals, which went to Game 7, peaked at nearly 20 million viewerssix years high. For context, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the championship against the Indiana Pacers; two small teams in the TV market that managed to draw big hits based only on the hot action of basketball court instead of relying on star power and metro population.

In the meantime, read on to find out how to see the 2026 NBA Playoffs. In the meantime, check a complete schedule of playoff games hereor the tournament bracket here.

How to Watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs Without Cable

While the NBA Playoffs air on TV across ESPN, ABC and NBC, games can be streamed on web-based streaming cable services, such as DirectTV, sling and Hulu + Live TV. Postseason games are also available for livestream on platforms, such as Main Video and Peacock.

Ahead, learn how to watch the NBA Playoffs with and without a cable subscription.

Watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs with DirectTVwhich carries ESPN, ABC and NBC, along with more than 125 other channels — such as NBA TV, CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports, NFL Network, FanDuel TV and more. Sports fans can watch NBA games for free using the five day cable streamer trial. Afterward, you can cancel the service or continue watching, with prices starting at $59.99 for the first month of service ($94.99 per month thereafter) for the entry-level “Select” package with current streamer deals.

sling is one of the cheapest options for new live TV streaming subscribers who want to watch the NBA Playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC and NBC with Orange + Blue plans with prices starting at $60.99 per month. Meanwhile, NBA TV is available through Sling’s Sports Extra package for an additional $11 per month. The sports package includes NHL Network, MLB Network, ESPNU and more.

Please note: Prices and channel availability depend on your local TV market.

To watch ESPN, ABC and NBC online, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV a rare choice. The streaming service includes Disney +, ESPN Unlimited and access to more than 95 live channels – such as CBS Sports Network, BET, CNN, Food Network and others – starting at $89.99 per month. In addition to live cable, Hulu + Live TV Subscribers are allowed to watch originals from Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited. It includes unlimited cloud DVR, too. Hulu also offers three day free trial.

Watching NBA games on ESPN and ABC (but no NBC) is over Fubo. The streaming service starts at $48.99 the first month ($73.99 per month after that) for more than 200 channels with a current streamer deal. You can also record over 1,000 hours of TV shows, movies, games and more. If you want to watch online for free, online TV streaming services offer a five-day free trial for new subscribers.

For the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Peacock is the home of the NBA on NBC online. No a Peacock subscriber? The streamer has an ad-free Peacock Premium package for $10.99 per month (or $109.99 per year). Otherwise, the ad-supported plan is $16.99 per month (or $169.99 per year). Apart from NBA games, you get access to originals like Evil: For Good, Women in London: The New Reign, The traitors, Love Island: All Stars and others; live sports and entertainment from NBC Sports; and more than 50 “always” streaming channels.

Related: The Best Peacock Streaming Deals

In 2026, Main Video there will be marquee games throughout the season. New subscribers will get a free 30-day trial with Main Video; after that, the standalone streaming service auto-renew at $8.99 per month. Another way to watch the game for free is to become a member of Amazon Primewhich includes access to Prime Video and costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year — nearly a 25 percent savings compared to paying the regular monthly price.

Amazon Prime includes access to Main Video, Main Game and Amazon Music Primeas well as fast free shipping on most items sold from the online retailer with Prime Delivery, in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market, access to exclusive shopping events — like Prime Day and Black Friday — and more

Stream every NBA game from all 30 teams in the association during the preseasonregular season, postseason and NBA Finals, NBA League Pass is the best option.

With prices starting at $16.99 per month, the streaming service has all live games, on-demand games and access to games from the NBA archive. NBA League Pass also includes NBA TV for coverage, analysis, documentaries, highlights and more.

However, blackout rules apply in some TV markets. Learn more about NBA League Pass here.

How to Watch the 2025-26 NBA Games Using Cable

NBA games are broadcast on ESPN, ABC and NBC. You can watch by tuning into your cable TV provider, on the networks’ respective websites and mobile apps using your cable TV account login — including streaming and traditional services like DirectTV, sling, Verizon, Xfinity and so on.