How To Watch NBA Games Live For Free So You Don’t Miss The Basketball Action

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The NBA is back! Here’s how to watch NBA games tonight for free so that you don’t miss a second of your favorite players on the court.

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The 78th season of the NBA starts out with the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are the reigning champions after they won the NBA Finals in June and they’re more pumped than ever to secure the title. Right after that, fellow California team the Golden State Warriors are ready to take on the Phoenix Suns. The season is packed with 82 games including an all-new in-season tournament which would take place from November 3 to December 9. Who knows? Maybe we’ll also see emo Jimmy Butler on the court as well.

Watch NBA Games

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So what are you waiting for? Here’s how to watch NBA games.

How to Watch NBA Games Live Tonight

Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

You can watch NBA games through streaming services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling Orange + Blue, and Hulu+ With Live TV. NBA games air exclusively on air on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV depending on the game. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starting at $74.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, which starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends.

Watch NBA Games With DirecTV Stream

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Sling Orange + Blue and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Sling Orange + Blue starts at $30 for your first month and $45 after the first month ends. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month.

Best Overall Pick to Watch NBA Games: DirecTV Stream

Watch NBA Games With DirecTV Stream

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Channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV

DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch NBA Games live for free because of its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. While ABC, ESPN and TNT are available on each plan, NBA TV is only available on Choice, Ultimate, and Premiere.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA Games with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.

  1. Visit streamtv.directv.com

  2. Click “Shop Packages”

  3. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice

  4. Enter your information and payment method

  5. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NBA Games

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch NBA Games: Fubo

Watch NBA Games With Fubo

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Channels: ABC, ESPN, NBA TV

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch NBA Games live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. ABC and ESPN are available on all three plans, while NBA TV is only available on Elite and Ultimate.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA Games with Fubo’s free trial.

  1. Visit Fubo.TV

  2. Click “Start Free Trial”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NBA Games

Best Budget Pick to Watch NBA Games: Sling

Watch NBA Games With Sling

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Channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV (with Sports Extra package)

Sling is our best budget pick to watch NBA Games based on its price and current deals. Sling Orange costs $20 for your first month and $40 per month after the first month ends. Sling Blue costs $22.50 for your first month and $45 per month after the first month ends. Sling Orange + Blue starts at $30 for your first month and $60 after the first month ends. Sling Orange includes ESPN and TNT; Sling Blue includes ABC and TNT; while Sling Orange + Blue includes ABC, ESPN, TNT. For NBA TV, users will need to add Sling’s Sports Extra package for $11 per month which comes with 13 additional channels: SEC ESPN Network, ACCN ESPN, Longhorn Network, ESPN U, ESPN EPSN Network+, ACCN X ESPN, ESPNews, MLB Network, NBA TV, BEIN sports, Tennis Channel, NHL Network, and MLB Strike Zone.

As for the difference between the plans, Sling Blue includes 42 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA Games with Sling.

  1. Visit Sling.com

  2. Click “Try Us Today”

  3. Create an account

  4. Choose your plan

  5. Enter your information and payment method

  6. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NBA Games

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch NBA Games: Hulu+ Live TV

Watch NBA Games With Hulu+ With Live TV

$68.99+

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Channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch NBA Games based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA Games with Hulu+ Live TV.

  1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV

  2. Click “Sign Up Now”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NBA Games

NBA Games Schedule

Image: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Image: Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The NBA released the schedule for the rest of the 2023-2024 season on their website. All times are EST.

Tuesday, October 24

  • Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets: 7:30 p.m. (TNT)

  • Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors: 10:00 p.m. (TNT)

Wednesday, October 25

  • Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks: 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)

  • Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs: 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday, October 26

  • Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks: 7:30 p.m. (TNT)

  • Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 10:00 p.m. (TNT)

Friday, October 27

  • Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics: 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

  • Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings: 10:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, October 28

  • New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Pelicans: 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)

  • Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns: 10:00 p.m. (NBA TV)

Monday, October 30

  • Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans: 8:00 p.m. (NBA TV)

  • Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 10:30 p.m. (NBA TV)

Tuesday, October 31

  • New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 8:00 p.m. (TNT)

  • San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns: 10:00 p.m. (TNT)

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