Where to watch the NBA Playoffs: Live stream the 2026 postseason from anywhere
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Updated on April 19, 2026, to include additional information about the results of the play-in tournament.
The NBA postseason is underway, and the Playoffs have officially begun. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Playoffs, including live streaming info for those without cable.
If you don't want to read any further, the NBA Playoffs will live stream through ESPN Unlimited, Peacock, and Prime Video in the US. In the UK, Sky Sports and Prime Video will carry postseason coverage. Playoffs coverage will be split between Sportsnet and TSN in Canada. Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about tuning around the world.
The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder lead the charge as the No. 1 seeds in this year's NBA Playoffs. The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference, with the Boston Celtics trailing in second and the New York Knicks close behind in third. The Thunder lead the Western Conference, with the San Antonio Spurs in second place and the Denver Nuggets in third. The Thunder are looking to go back-to-back after winning the NBA Finals last year in a dramatic Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers.
The Play-in Tournament wrapped up late on Friday night, with the final teams advancing to the Playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers punched their playoff tickets with No. 7 seed spots, and the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns nabbed the No. 8 seed spots. The Play-in tournament sent the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, LA Clippers, and Golden State Warriors packing.
Where to watch NBA Playoffs in the US
TNT is out of the NBA broadcast game in the US. Instead, the 2026 postseason will air across ESPN, ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. The Prime Video inclusion means that even those with the most comprehensive cable package will still need to sign up for a streaming service if they're planning to watch every game of the NBA Playoffs. The Playoffs won't be available to live stream on NBA League Pass in the US because all games will be nationally broadcast.
ESPN and ABC will broadcast several games in the first and second rounds, as well as the Eastern Conference Finals. ABC will also carry the NBA Finals. All ESPN and ABC games (along with tons of other coverage from the ESPN family of channels) are available through ESPN's direct streaming counterpart, ESPN Unlimited. ESPN Unlimited costs $30 a month and serves as a one-stop shop for all things ESPN. There's also a cheaper ESPN Select plan, but this won't help you out for the NBA Playoffs.
NBC and Peacock will also carry loads of games this year, including several games in the first and second rounds, and the Western Conference Finals. You can live stream it all on Peacock, where sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium. Peacock Select, the budget plan, doesn't carry sports. You can upgrade to ad-free on-demand content and a 24/7 live stream of NBC with the $17 a month Peacock Premium Plus plan.
Prime Video is also getting in on the NBA Playoffs action. The streaming service carries the play-in tournament, along with several first and second round games. Prime Video subscriptions start at just $9 a month, but Prime Video is also included with all standard Amazon Prime subscriptions. An Amazon Prime subscription costs $15 a month and comes with a 30-day free trial for new customers.
If you'd prefer to watch through a live TV streaming service, which functions like cable (without all of the long-term contracts and equipment), then our guide to the best live TV streaming services might be able to help you out.
DirecTV is our top recommendation for a month-to-month cable alternative. You can find all NBC, ABC, and ESPN games in DirecTV's MySports genre pack. MySports carries around 20 popular sports networks and unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions start at $65 a month, but new customers can get their first two months for $45 a month after a five-day free trial. To watch every game of the postseason, you'll still need to sign up for Prime Video separately.
Where to watch NBA Playoffs in the UK
Sky Sports and Prime Video will split NBA Playoffs coverage in the UK. Sky prices vary by plan and contract, and you can learn more in our guide to the best Sky TV deals and plans. Amazon Prime costs £9 a month or £8 a month for Prime Video only. New customers can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. The Playoffs should also be available through NBA League Pass in the UK.
How to watch NBA Playoffs from anywhere
If you're traveling abroad and hoping to keep up with your usual watch options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that let people change their device's virtual location. This way, their go-to websites and apps work from anywhere, just like they would back home. The services we've highlighted above require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home at the moment.
NordVPN is our top recommendation. It's fast, user-friendly (even for beginners), and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out. You can learn more in our heavily tested guide to the best VPN services.
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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.