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How to Watch NBA TV Live Without Cable in 2024

Keep up with the top matchups and latest analysis this season.

Mar 20, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Drew Eubanks (14) guards Philadelphia 76ers forward KJ Martin (1) during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

This post was written in partnership with Sling TV.

The 2023-24 NBA season is underway, and that means basketball fans need to make sure they’re primed to watch all the action. Live TV streaming services make it easier than ever to handpick your channel lineups and choose the subscription that works for you.

With a streaming subscription, you can watch NBA games from anywhere, and you don’t have to sign a long-term cable contract to do it. You can tune in just for the season or keep your subscription year-round — it’s up to you. Whichever option you choose, you’ll want to be sure you can keep up with the latest news and top matchups on NBA TV.

Which streaming services offer NBA TV?

Sling TVDIRECTV STREAMFuboHulu + Live TVYouTube TV
NBA TV

What is NBA TV?

NBA TV is the official TV network of the National Basketball Association. It’s scheduled to air more than 100 featured games throughout the 2023-24 regular season, plus additional action during the playoffs. It also features daily round-ups and analyses of the league’s 30 teams and its top players. If you want to catch every national NBA broadcast this season and keep up with rising stars like Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, and Jamal Murray, NBA TV is an essential part of your streaming lineup.


How to watch NBA TV with Sling TV (Featured partner)

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to stream NBA TV and other top sports networks, check out Sling TV. This platform offers a pared-down cable experience, with base plans ranging from $40 to $55 a month and including a smaller channel selection. All Sling plans include 50 hours of cloud DVR storage.

PlanCost per MonthChannelsSimultaneous
Streams
Free Trial
Sling Orange$40321No
Sling Blue$40403No
Sling Orange & Blue$55461–3No

What sports offerings does Sling TV provide? 

In its basic plans, Sling TV doesn’t offer nearly as much sports action as its competitors do. There are no RSNs, local channels are only available in some markets, and you can only get a mix of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, NFL Network, FS1, and MotorTrend, depending on which plan you choose.

However, with a closer look and a little customization, Sling can provide quite a bit of sports coverage. The Sports Extra add-on offers quite a few additional channels. The exact lineup varies based on your base plan, but you’ll find networks like NBA TV, ACCN, SEC Network, ESPNU, MLB Network, and NHL Network. If you opt for Sling Orange & Blue with the Sports Extra add-on, you’ll have all these, plus even more sports on TNT, TBS, and TruTV, for $70 a month. Overall, you can get a lot of sports here while keeping costs down compared to Sling’s competitors.


How to watch NBA TV with DIRECTV STREAM

PlanCost per MonthChannelsFree Trial
Entertainment$79.9975+Yes
Choice$108.99105+Yes
Ultimate$119.99140+Yes
Premier$164.99150+Yes

DIRECTV STREAM is the streaming offshoot of DIRECTV’s satellite service, and the plans and channel packages will feel familiar if you’ve ever used that service. You’ll need to opt for the Choice plan or higher to watch NBA TV. All DIRECTV STREAM plans include unlimited simultaneous streams at home plus unlimited cloud DVR storage space.

DIRECTV STREAM offers one of the best ways to get the complete sports experience on a live TV streaming service. You’ll have to pay a bit more to take full advantage of it, but the Choice plan includes more than 15 dedicated national sports channels, plus all your local networks and regional sports networks (RSNs).

With the Choice plan, you can watch all the national NBA action on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV, plus all your local team coverage on networks like Bally Sports or MSG. There’s much more sports coverage, too, across channels like ESPN2, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), MLB Network, NFL Network, ACCN, ESPNU, SEC Network, and more. Overall, DIRECTV STREAM is a great option for fans who want a cable-like experience with plenty of national, international, and regional action.


How to watch NBA TV with Fubo

PlanCost per MonthChannelsFree Trial
Pro$74.99170+Yes
Elite$84.99235+Yes
Premier$94.99245+Yes

Fubo originally began as a sports-focused streaming service, but it has since expanded to include much more. In fact, the platform now offers more channels than any of its competitors. All plans include 10 simultaneous streams at home and 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage space. To get NBA TV, though, you’ll need to upgrade to one of the top two plans or choose from one of Fubo’s add-ons.

Fubo may have grown to include far more than sports, but it’s clear that sports fans are still its biggest target market. The basic Pro plan includes around 30 sports-focused networks — far more than any competitor at the same price point. 

In Fubo’s Pro plan, you’ll get national coverage of the NBA and other leagues across networks like ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, beIN Sports, CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network, and more. Major local channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are also included. You’ll also be able to keep up with regional action on RSNs but note that there is a regional sports fee of up to $13.99 a month, depending on your market. To get NBA TV, it will cost you anywhere from $7.99 to $10.99 a month extra, depending on which upgrade option you choose.

If sports are your top priority, Fubo is probably your best bet. However, beware that the platform is missing some big names, including NBA mainstay TNT and other popular networks like TBS, CNN, and BBC.


How to watch NBA TV with YouTube TV

PlanCost per MonthChannelsFree trial
YouTube TV$72.99110+Yes

YouTube TV is the only live TV streaming service that includes NBA TV in its base plan, making it a great option for basketball fans. All in all, the service offers one of the most well-rounded live TV streaming packages, with more than 110 channels covering a broad range of sports, news, and entertainment. You’ll also get unlimited cloud DVR space and the option to stream on up to three devices at once.

For cord-cutters, YouTube TV offers one of the more cable-like experiences in live streaming. With a broader channel lineup, there’s a lot to enjoy, and there’s no shortage of live sports. YouTube TV features all the major local networks, plus mainstays like ESPN, ESPNU, FS1, NFL Network, ACCN, SEC Network, TNT, TBS, and USA.

There are also some excellent sports-focused add-ons available, with upgrades like NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, and 17 extra channels in the Sports Plus package. However, YouTube TV doesn’t include any RSNs, so fans who want to keep up with their local teams will be disappointed. Overall, this is a good choice for sports fans who want the best in national and international coverage, with plenty of other news and entertainment thrown in.


How to watch NBA TV on the app

The NBA also offers a mobile app, which you can use to stream live games and keep up with the latest news and stats. You can log in with your TV provider to access live content or subscribe directly to NBA TV or the full NBA League Pass service within the app. NBA TV costs $59.99 a year through the app. NBA League Pass, meanwhile, gives you access to all out-of-market games and starts at $99.99 a season.

The NBA app is available on iOS and Android mobile devices, along with Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. For a full list of supported devices, see the NBA’s information page.


Is live sports streaming worth it? 

Livestreaming sports is one of the most flexible ways to enjoy the action for your favorite leagues and teams. There are countless plans and packages to choose from, and you can subscribe for as much or as little of the season as you want to. If you can’t miss some of the most important NBA games this year, check out these live TV streaming services so you can keep up all season long.


FAQs

How do I watch NBA TV for free?

NBA TV isn’t available for free, but you can try a free trial for some of the live TV streaming services that offer it. Currently, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and YouTube TV offer free trials that range from one day to a few weeks. Amazon Prime also offers a free trial for the channel.

Does Amazon Prime have NBA TV?

You can subscribe to NBA TV through Amazon Prime. The service offers a seven-day free trial, then it costs $6.99 a month (on top of your Prime subscription fee).

What is the cheapest way to watch the NBA?

Many national NBA games air on ABC, so you can watch those broadcasts for free with a basic antenna. To get more of the action on channels like ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV, Sling TV offers the least expensive streaming option.

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