NBA Preseason Livestream: How to Watch Preseason Basketball Without Cable

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Quick Answer: The best way to watch preseason NBA games online is to get a subscription to DirecTV Stream’s Choice package. Grab a free trial here.

More from Rolling Stone

Price: $DirecTV Stream

Buy Now

The 2023-24 NBA season is just around the corner, which means it’s time for players to dust off the cobwebs during this year’s NBA preseason.

However, if you’re looking to watch NBA preseason games live, you’ll want to dial in your streaming setup. Preseason NBA broadcasts are different than regular season broadcasts, so your current setup might not suffice to catch every preseason NBA game live. Below is a quick guide on how to stream NBA preseason games online, including an easy way to watch a couple games for free.

How to Watch NBA Preseason Games Online

Most preseason NBA games are being shown on either NBA TV or regional sports networks (RSNs) and NBA League Pass, but a few games will also be broadcast nationally on TNT, ESPN2, or ESPN. If you want to get the most games in one streamer, go with a live TV streaming service with local channels, such as DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, if you want to spend less, you can watch a good portion of games with a subscription to NBA League Pass.

Here’s more information on each option:

1. Stream Preseason NBA on DirecTV Stream

We recommend getting a live TV streaming service like DirecTV Stream to watch preseason NBA games online this year. DirecTV Stream’s Choice package carries NBA TV and RSNs (in most areas), as well as over 100 other live TV channels. You get a five-day free trial to start, and then payment kicks in at $99.99 a month.

Price: $DirecTV Stream

Buy Now

2. Stream Preseason NBA on fuboTV

Another great live TV streaming service that you can use to watch preseason NBA games online is fuboTV, which carries NBA TV, RSNs (in most areas, and sometimes fewer than DirecTV Stream), and up to 300+ other live TV channels. You also get a free trial when you start fuboTV, and, after the free trial, packages start at $74.99 a month.

3. Stream Preseason NBA on NBA League Pass

All of this year’s preseason NBA games being shown on RSNs (about half the slate) are also being shown on NBA League Pass. League Pass is much more affordable than the streaming services above at $14.99 a month or $99.99 for the whole season. Both plans start with a seven-day free trial.

Price: $NBA League Pass

Buy Now

Stream Preseason NBA Games for Free

Want to watch NBA preseason games for free? Be sure to take advantage of the free trials from all the above streaming services. They won’t last you the whole duration of the NBA preseason, but they’re a good way to catch several games live without paying. Just remember to cancel any free trials to avoid being charged.

Price: $DirecTV Stream

Buy Now

When Does the NBA Preseason Start? 2023 NBA Schedule

The 2023 NBA preseason kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 5 with a Mavericks vs. Timberwolves game in Abu Dhabi. The preseason runs through Friday, Oct. 20, before the regular season starts on Tue, Oct. 24.

Here’s the full schedule for the first week and a half of preseason NBA games (times in ET):

Thursday, October 5
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — 12 p.m. (NBA TV)

Saturday, October 7
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks — 12 p.m. (NBA TV)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors — 8:30 p.m. (NBA TV)

Sunday, October 8
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks -—1 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Phoenix Suns vs. Detroit Pistons — 3 p.m. (NBA TV)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics — 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Indiana Pacers vs. Memphis Grizzlies — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 9 p.m. (NBA TV)

Monday, October 9
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 9 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Tuesday, October 10
Dallas Mavericks vs. Madrid Baloncesto — 2:45 p.m. (NBA TV)
Cairns Taipans vs. Washington Wizards — 7 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat — 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 10 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns — 10 p.m. (TNT)
New Zealand Breakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers — 10 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Wednesday, October 11
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers — 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10 p.m. (NBA TV)

Thursday, October 12
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards — 7 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers — 7 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Detroit Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — 7 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Atlanta Hawks — 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Maccabi Ra’anana vs. Brooklyn Nets — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans — 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers — 10 p.m. (NBA TV)

Friday, October 13
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs — 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10 p.m. (ESPN2)

Saturday, October 14
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Atlanta Hawks — 3:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks — 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz — 9 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Sunday, October 15
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets — 5 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Miami Heat — 6 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Cairns Taipans vs. Toronto Raptors — 6 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets — 9 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings — 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.