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The NBA playoffs continues with the second round of play. The NBA Playoffs funnels down with the top eight teams in the pro basketball league, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and others, all vying to hoist the highly-coveted Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy at the end of the season.
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Want to watch post-season games online? The 2025 NBA Playoffs broadcast live across ESPN, TNT and ABC.
If you’re a sports fan, there are plenty of affordable streaming options that offer NBA coverage live and on demand.
Read on for details on how to watch and stream the NBA playoffs without cable.
Where to Watch the NBA Playoffs 2025 Online
Those who have access to cable or satellite can stream games live, without paying out of pocket, depending on your streaming plan.
Can you watch ESPN, TNT and ABC without cable? Yes! You can stream those channels and more on DirecTV, Sling TV, and others.
Most streamers offer a free trial or a discount at sign up, so you won’t necessarily have to spend anything up front. To help you shop for the right package, we collected a short list of some of the more affordable streamers and what they offer for NBA fans.
How to Watch the NBA Playoffs 2025 on DirectTV
Join DirecTV with a five-day free trial to enjoy your favorite sports and other entertainment. The streaming service’s signature packages start with features more than 90 channels: ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, ESPN2, FS1, SEC, MLB Network, TLC, CBS, USA, Bravo, E!, BET, MTV and more for $84.99 per month.
Shopping for an upgrade? Subscribe to DirecTV’s Choice, Ultimate or Premiere signature packages to stream more channels. The Premier package also includes free Max, Starz, Paramount+ With Showtime and Cinemax. Learn more about DirecTV’s signature packages and genre packs here.
How to Watch the NBA Playoffs 2025 on Sling TV
Sling TV is another streaming option for sports fans on a budget. With Sling Orange + Blue package, you can stream ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and other channels for starting at $33 for the first month ($65.99 per month afterwards).
You’ll also get more than 45 other networks, including Disney Channel, ESPN2, NBC, Fox, TBS, Bravo, Discovery Channel, Fox News, MSNBC, National Geographic, USA Network, Fox Sports and more. Please note that channel availability and price depends on your local TV market. Learn more about Sling TV here.
In addition, Hulu + Live TV has more than 90 channels, plus access to ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+, and a free trial for three days. Verizon Fios, YouTube TV and T-Mobile are a few other options for live television, and if you’re streaming internationally, ExpressVPN will give you access to certain channels and streaming platforms.
Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During NBA Playoffs?
It’s likely there will be a number of celebrities and famous recording artists in attendance during the NBA Playoffs, such as NY Knicks fans Spike Lee, 50 Cent and Fat Joe; Cavs fans Drew Carey, Myles Garrett, Usher and Machine Gun Kelly; and others. Tune in to the games to find out who’s sitting courtside on celebrity row.
NBA Playoffs 2025 Schedule
The 2025 NBA Playoffs goes until late June for the NBA Finals. Check out a complete NBA Playoffs schedule here.
Want to watch NBA Playoffs games in person? Tickets are available on sites like StubHub, Gametime, SeatGeek and NBA.com.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
