NBA Playoffs 2023: Schedule, How to Watch Knicks vs. Cavaliers, Warriors vs. Kings Today
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Sling TV Orange: $40, $60 or $65
Carries ESPN, TNT and NBA TV; ABC requires Orange and Blue combo
See at Sling TV
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Hulu Plus Live TV: $70
Carries ESPN, ABC and TNT, but not NBA TV
See at Hulu
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YouTube TV: $73
Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and TNT
See at YouTube
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Fubo: $75
Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV but not TNT
See at Fubo
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DirecTV Stream: $80, $100
Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and TNT
See at DirecTV Stream
It’s a good day to be a basketball fan. With the play-in tournament behind us today marks the first games of the 2023 NBA playoffs proper. Sixteen of the league’s best teams square off this weekend, beginning a month-and-a-half of games to determine who meets in the NBA Finals in June.
One big matchup Saturday pits the New York Knicks against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell was pegged to be a Knick before the season started, and New York performed beyond expectations thanks to the play of Jalen Brunson, so storylines abound in this series between closely matched teams. In the other three games the Celtics, who made the finals last year, host the Hawks, the 76ers and MVP finalist Joel Embiid play the Nets and in the nightcap, the defending champion Golden State Warriors?and Steph Curry visit the surprising Sacramento Kings, a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 17 years. Congrats Kings fans, but yikes, tough matchup!
Here’s everything you need to know about watching and live streaming today’s games, and the rest of the NBA postseason, with or without cable.?
What is the NBA playoffs schedule?
Here is the schedule (and seeds) for the NBA playoffs on Saturday and Sunday (all times ET). The highest seeds have home-court advantage in each best-of-seven series.
Saturday, April 15
- Brooklyn Nets (6) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (3), 1 p.m. ET on ESPN (Game 1)
- Atlanta Hawks (7) vs. Boston Celtics (2), 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (Game 1)
- New York Knicks (5) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4), 6 p.m. ET on ESPN (Game 1)
- Golden State Warriors (6) vs. Sacramento Kings (3), 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC (Game 1)
Sunday, April 16
- Los Angeles Lakers (7) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (2), 3 p.m. ET on ABC (Game 1)
- Miami Heat (8) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (1), 5:30 p.m. ET on TNT (Game 1)
- Los Angeles Clippers (5) vs. Phoenix Suns (4), 8 p.m. ET on TNT (Game 1)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (8) vs. Denver Nuggets (1) 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT (Game 1)
For the full playoff schedule check out NBA.com.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers will face off today in Game 1 of their playoff series.
Jason Miller/Getty ImagesWhat does the NBA playoff bracket look like??
The bracket is set.
PLAYOFF HOOPS BEGIN IN 12 HOURS ??
Nets-Sixers | Game 1 | 1pm/et on ESPN#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/bsFcixAXF2
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2023
What channels will broadcast playoff games?
The NBA playoffs will air on TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV.?
This year TNT will have the Eastern Conference finals, while ESPN will take the lead on the Western Conference finals. The NBA Finals will air on ABC.?
Best options for streaming the NBA playoffs
As all the games will be shown nationally, most of the major streaming TV services offer all the networks you’ll need for watching the NBA playoffs. That said, it can be a bit complicated.?
Sling TV Orange: $40, $60 or $65
Carries ESPN, TNT and NBA TV; ABC requires Orange and Blue combo
Sling TV’s Orange plan includes ESPN and TNT. NBA TV is available as part of the Sports Extra add-on, which costs $11 a month. ABC, however, is only available in eight markets (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Fresno, Houston and Raleigh) and requires the Orange and Blue combo plan if you want ESPN too. That combo plan costs $65 per month in all of those cities except Fresno, Houston and Raleigh, where it costs $60.
See at Sling TV
Hulu Plus Live TV: $70
Carries ESPN, ABC and TNT, but not NBA TV
Hulu Plus Live TV costs $70 a month and ESPN, ABC and TNT, but not NBA TV. Click the “View all channels in your area” link at the bottom of its welcome page to see which local networks are available where you live.
See at Hulu
YouTube TV: $73
Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and TNT
YouTube TV costs $73 a month and offers all the main basketball channels for the NBA playoffs, including NBA TV. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.
See at YouTube
Fubo: $75
Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV but not TNT
FuboTV costs $75 per month for its Pro option and ABC, ESPN and NBA TV but not TNT.?Check out which local networks it offers here.
See at Fubo
DirecTV Stream: $80, $100
Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and TNT
DirecTV Stream is expensive. It’s the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services. Its cheapest, $65-a-month Entertainment package includes ESPN, ABC, and TNT. You’ll need to move up to the $85-a-month Choice plan to get NBA TV. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels and RSNs are available in your area.?
It is worth noting that DirecTV has an additional $15 “advanced receiver service” fee that automatically applies and is extra from the sticker price, which makes the Entertainment package $80 per month and the Choice option $100 per month.?
See at DirecTV Stream
Each live TV streaming service offers a free trial, allows you to cancel anytime and requires a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our?live TV streaming services guide.