The 2023 NBA Playoffs will tip off on Saturday, April 15, and you can watch all games across ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV.
Many cable, satellite, and live TV streaming providers offer the four playoff channels. But keep scrolling as we’ll go into more detail on which plans are a slam dunk for watching the NBA Playoffs on TV.
NBA Playoffs channels
To catch every game of the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals, you’ll need a TV package with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV.
Because NBA playoff games are nationally televised, NBA League Pass won’t broadcast any playoff games live. But it does offer live audio for every game, and you can watch every playoff game on demand three hours after the initial broadcast ends.
2023 NBA Playoffs schedule
The 2023 NBA Playoffs will begin in mid-April and run until June. Because that start time is still several weeks from now, we mapped out a tentative playoff schedule in the table below.
| Stage | Start date | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| NBA Play-In Tournament | Tuesday, April 11 | ESPN, TNT |
| NBA Playoffs: First Round | Saturday, April 15 | ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV |
| NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals | Monday, May 1 | ABC, ESPN, TNT |
| NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals | Tuesday, May 16 | ABC, ESPN, TNT |
| NBA Finals | Thursday, June 1 | ABC |
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs
Now that you know the channels you’ll need and the dates you’ll need them, we’ve got some recommendations on how to watch the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals.
And fear not, hoopsters, all of the services and packages we recommend below include ABC, ESPN, and TNT. You just might miss out on NBA TV, which doesn’t show many NBA playoff games anyways.
How to watch the NBA Playoffs without cable
| Service | Price | Channel count | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TVBest overall | $72.99/mo. | 100+ | View Plans for YouTube TVRead YouTube TV review |
| Hulu + Live TVBest value | $69.99–$82.99/mo. | 85+ | View Plans for HuluRead Hulu + Live TV review |
| Sling TV Orange w/ free antenna*Cheapest | $40.00/mo. | 30+ | View Plans for Sling TVRead Sling TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Must pre-pay for two month(s) of service. New customers only. Limit one device per Sling TV account. Not available with free trial. Not available in Puerto Rico.
If you’re looking to save cash, Sling TV Orange is a good deal at just $40.00 per month. The only catch is that you’ll have to sign up for Sling’s free TV antenna deal to get your local ABC affiliate.
Pro tip: Speaking of antennas . . . if you just wanna catch the NBA Finals, an antenna is the way to go. Check out our article Best Antennas for Cord-Cutters to see if an HD antenna is right for you.
We love YouTube TV. In fact, we ranked it the best overall live TV streaming service for 2022. It does, however, come with a price tag: $64.99 per month, to be exact. But you can cancel any time, so why not splurge for the NBA Playoffs?
If you’re a Hulu fan (Go Big Green!), you can’t go wrong with Hulu + Live TV. You’ll get all that fantastic Hulu on-demand content and 85+ live channels, including ABC, ESPN, and TNT.
How to watch the NBA Playoffs with cable or satellite TV
| Service | Price | Channel count | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISH America's Top 200Best overall | $99.99/mo. | 240+ | View Plans for DISHRead DISH review |
| SpectrumBest value | $59.99/mo. | 125+ | View Plans for SpectrumRead Spectrum review |
| Optimum Select TV + Optimum 300Best bundle | $135.00/mo. | 340+ | View Plans for OptimumRead Optimum review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
You’re probably wondering why we’d even bother with cable packages at this point. We know, we know, streaming’s all the rage, but a lot of cable packages give you more total channels for about the same price as the live TV streaming services above.
Spectrum TV Select will cost you less than YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV and get you way more channels. Just remember that this jewel of a TV plan is only available in Spectrum service areas.
DISH Network, on the other hand, is pretty much available anywhere. We like to think of DISH as the Michael Jordan of TV: G.O.A.T. (chill, Lebron fans). So if you’re willing to shell out some extra cash, DISH will have your NBA Playoff needs covered and then some.
If you live in the New York area and you want a sweet, sweet TV and internet bundle, Optimum has you covered.
With Optimum Select TV + Optimum 300, you’ll get over 340 channels (including ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV) and download speeds up to 300 Mbps. That’s a good grip of internet speed for most small- to medium-sized households. Again, like Spectrum, you’ll need to check if Optimum is available in your area.
How to watch the NBA Playoffs FAQ
Can I watch the NBA Playoffs for free?
Yes, you can watch some NBA playoff games for free on ABC with an HD antenna—including the 2023 NBA Finals. You have to pay to watch NBA games on ESPN, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, and TNT, so check out our How to Watch the NBA guide for provider recommendations.
Are the NBA Finals on ABC?
Yes, ABC is airing the entire 2023 NBA Finals. You can expect the best-of-seven series to commence on June 1, 2023.
What channel are the NBA Finals on?
The 2023 NBA Finals are on ABC. You can also watch Spanish-language coverage of the series on ESPN Deportes.
How many NBA teams make the playoffs in 2023?
In 2023, 16 teams will compete in the NBA Playoffs. That’s over half of the league’s 30 franchises.
Methodology
Our b-ball experts spent the past several NBA seasons watching the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals across several different TV services. Because the channels needed to watch the NBA postseason are easy to come by, we based our recommendations primarily on price and availability.
For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
