The NBA Playoffs are nearly here. If you’re looking for showstopping shots, monster dunks, and ankle-breaking antics, look no further than basketball’s biggest stage, culminating in the NBA Finals. How will you be watching? You could bring everyone together, sit them down on a couch, and watch TV with your traditional cable package. Or, like most people at this point, get on a video streaming service and watch from anywhere.
When it comes to live sports, the most important thing to know is when the games are and what time they start. The playoff picture is still coming together, but we know that the SoFi Play-In Tournament will take place April 14-17, with the NBA Playoffs beginning in earnest on April 18, followed by the NBA Finals on June 3. Here’s how to watch.
2026 NBA Playoffs: Schedule and Where to Watch
(Credit: NBA)
The NBA season ends April 12, so we have some time before matchups are set. Starting this year, the NBA has split playoff games between ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon. According to the agreement, ESPN/ABC will broadcast 18 games in the first two rounds, one conference finals in 10 of the 11 years, and the NBA Finals. NBC/Peacock will broadcast 28 playoff games in the first two rounds and one conference final in six of the 11 years.
Previously, the Play-In Tournament aired on ESPN and TNT, but all six games will be exclusively broadcast on Prime Video for the next 11 seasons. Amazon will also carry approximately one-third of the first two playoff rounds, as well as one of the conference finals in six of the 11 years.
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2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament: April 14-17 (Amazon Prime Video)
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2026 NBA Playoffs start April 18 (ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, Prime Video)
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NBA Finals: June 3-19 (ABC)
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Game 1 – June 3, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Game 2 – June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Game 3 – June 8, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Game 4 – June 10, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Game 5 – June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Game 6 – June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Game 7 – June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET
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How to Stream the 2026 NBA Playoffs
If you want to watch every game of the NBA Playoffs without worrying about which network is broadcasting each game, there are streaming options that let you watch everything. Unfortunately, since the games are spread across three companies—Disney, Comcast, and Amazon—you’ll likely need to do some searching to find the best package that covers as many games as possible.
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Amazon Prime Video: If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to the games broadcast by Amazon. Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually. For an extra $4.99 per month, the Ultra plan will also give you 4K streaming.
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DirecTV: The $89.99 Entertainment package gives you access to ABC, NBC, and ESPN.
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ESPN Select: Stream live sports and archived ESPN shows starting at $12.99 per month.
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Fubo: Fubo carries ABC and ESPN, which you can get via the Sports plan for $55.99 per month. There is also a quarterly priced option.
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Hulu + Live TV: The ad-supported, $89.99-per-month live TV package lets you stream ABC and ESPN.
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Peacock: For $10.99 per month, Peacock Premium will grant you access to all playoff games broadcast on NBC and the streaming app.
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Sling: Sling’s Orange & Blue bundle includes ABC, NBC, and ESPN for $60.99 per month. There are less expensive packages available if you only need some of these channels.
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YouTube TV: The streamer’s Sports Plan includes ABC, NBC, and ESPN for $64.99 per month
As a reminder, you’ll want to enable your TV’s motion-smoothing option for the best picture while watching the NBA Playoffs and other televised sporting events. Equally as important, remember to turn it off when you’re done, so your TV shows and movies don’t have that dreaded “soap opera effect.”
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Can You Watch the NBA Playoffs With a VPN?
If you’re watching outside the US and games are unavailable in your country, try a VPN. Set the region to a US location to access local streaming content. You may also be able to unlock content available from other regions, even if you’re in the US. For instance, Amazon has the rights to broadcast playoff games (including the Finals) in Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Ireland. If you don’t have ESPN or ABC, but do have Prime, you might be able to use a VPN here. The same can be said for Disney+ if you access it from certain Asian and European markets.
Recommended by Our Editors
Not all VPN services work well with all streaming services, but the best VPNs for sports streaming will deliver high speeds without data limits. Great options include Editors’ Choice winners NordVPN and Proton VPN. Check out our recommended VPNs for iPhones and Android devices if you’re watching on the go.
PCMag-Recommended VPN Services
For more on how to watch basketball, check out our roundup of the best NBA streaming services.
About Our Expert
Jason Cohen
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