Where to watch NBA Finals: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
William Purnell/Getty Images
The 2025 NBA Finals have finally arrived, and the Thunder and Pacers will square off in the best-of-seven series. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Finals, including live streaming options.
It's been a thrilling and often surprising month-and-a-half since the 2025 Playoffs tipped off, but it's all been leading up to the NBA Finals. No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder will face off with the No. 4 seed, the Indiana Pacers. Neither team has won a championship title under their current names, although the Thunder was originally known as the Seattle SuperSonics, and the franchise won a chip in 1979.
The Thunder more or less sailed through the the first few stages, with the exception of the Conference Semifinals, which went all the way to Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets. It took six games for the Pacers to defeat the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they otherwise breezed through the Playoffs.
This series won't be available on ESPN Plus, so the cheapest way to live stream the NBA Finals without a free trial will be through Sling TV. Below, we'll break down everything you need to know about that service and recommend other streaming options with free trials.
- See also: Where to watch the Women's College World Series | How to watch the French Open | How to watch Stanley Cup Finals
What channel are the NBA Finals on?
All NBA Finals games will air on ABC in the US. Game 1 is scheduled to tip off on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, although NBA Countdown coverage will begin at 8.
Where to watch NBA Finals in the US
As we mentioned above, the absolute cheapest way for US cord-cutters to live stream the NBA Finals without a free trial is through Sling TV, since ESPN Plus won't be carrying the series. Sling costs $46/month, but new customers can get 50% off their first month of service. That means you can watch every game of the NBA Finals (even if the series makes it to Game 7) for $23. Sling is a month-to-month cable alternative, which means that you can cancel at any time.
You'll want to sign up for Sling's Orange plan, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and 30 other popular live channels. ESPN3 live streams ABC on NBA games, so you'll be able to watch the Finals here. This is how I personally watched the Game 5 Championship win in 2024, and I've double-checked the Sling TV guide this year to confirm that Game 1 will live stream on ESPN3 tonight.
While Sling doesn't have a free trial for new customers, other live TV streaming services that offer a free trial have significantly higher monthly fees, but they also come with even more channel options. Two of the best live TV streaming services that we've tried ourselves are DirecTV and Fubo. DirecTV's signature Entertainment plan costs $85/month, offers access to 90+ channels, and comes with a five-day free trial for new customers. Fubo's Pro plan starts at $85/month, comes with at least 150 live channels, and offers a seven-day free trial for new users. Plus, new Fubo users can get $20 knocked off their first month of service.
How to watch NBA Finals from anywhere
NBA fans traveling outside the US can still keep up with their usual viewing methods with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to change the virtual location of their devices. This way, they don't need to miss out on any games just because they're away from home. VPNs are popular ways to improve online security and privacy. The services we've highlighted today require US payment methods, so this option will work best for Americans who are just abroad at the moment.
ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs on the market. It's a top-rated, user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the app and its extensive cybersecurity features in our ExpressVPN review.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.