How to Watch the NBA Finals Online: Live Stream Basketball Without Cable

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The Finals are here.

After a month and a half of thrilling playoff games, we’re down to the top-seeded Denver Nuggets and the eight-seeded Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. The Heat — who are just the second eighth-seeded team to ever make the Finals — are looking to continue their Cinderella story against one of the very best teams in the league.

The teams have traded wins so far, with the Heat pulling off a surprise win in Game 2 on Nuggets turf. Now, they’re all headed to Miami for the first time in Game 3.

Related: The Best Outdoor Basketball Hoops on Amazon

If you’re looking to watch the NBA Finals online this year, read on. Below is a full guide on how to stream the NBA playoffs online, including a couple of hacks that let you watch NBA playoff games for free online.

Quick Answer: The best way to stream the NBA Finals is with fuboTV, which carries ABC for Finals livestreams and offers a seven-day free trial. After the trial, it costs $74.99 a month.

Buy Free Trial fuboTV

How to Watch the NBA Finals Online Free Without Cable

The NBA Finals are broadcast exclusively by ABC, although playoff coverage was split between ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT.

For those of us without cable, that means you’ll need to get a streaming service that carries ABC if you want to stream the NBA Finals. Below are some of the best streaming services that you can use to watch the NBA Finals online in 2023.

Free Trial: fuboTV Pro Plan

Most Channels: DirecTV Stream Choice Package

Most Affordable: Sling Orange + Blue Plan

1. Stream the NBA Finals on fuboTV

fuboTV is the best way to watch the NBA finals online this year, delivering ABC, as well as ESPN, and NBA TV in its most affordable package, the Pro plan. This plan costs $74.99 a month, but you get a seven-day free trial to start — use that to stream the NBA Finals for free for a few games.

Buy Free Trial fuboTV

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2. Stream the NBA Finals on DirecTV Stream

Another great way to watch the 2023 NBA Finals online is DirecTV Stream. The robust streaming service’s Choice package delivers over 100 channels, including TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, and ABC (in most regions). The DirecTV Stream Choice package costs $84.99 a month and starts with a five-day free trial before you pay.

Buy Free Trial DirecTV Stream

3. Stream the NBA Finals on Sling

For a slightly more affordable live TV streaming service, turn to Sling. You can get TNT, ESPN, and ABC livestreams as part of Sling’s Orange + Blue plan, which costs just $60 a month.

Buy Sling Orange + Blue $60

When Are the NBA Playoffs? 2023 Schedule

The 2023 NBA playoffs started on April 15. The Finals begin on June 1 and run until June 18, if necessary.

Here’s the 2023 NBA playoffs schedule for the Finals. (Times in ET) (*Games if necessary).

Game 1: Heat 93, Nuggets 104
Game 2: Heat 111, Nuggets 108
Game 3: Nuggets at Heat, Wed., June 7, 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: Nuggets at Heat, Fri., June 9, 8:30 p.m.
Game 5: Heat at Nuggets, Mon., June 12, 8:30 p.m.
*Game 6: Nuggets at Heat, Thurs., June 15, 8:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Heat at Nuggets, Sun., June 18, 8 p.m.