How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: live streams, schedule

NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City Thunder in hot pursuit of a first back-to-back NBA championship since Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant’s great Golden State Warriors achieved the feat eight years ago.

OKC backed up their Finals win with a superb regular season, dropping only 18 games in the West. The San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and 2025’s losing Conference finalists the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking like the franchises most likely to stand in their way. Although perhaps the biggest story in their side of the bracket is taking place in Los Angeles, where the father-son combo of LeBron and Bronny James are hoping to take the Lakers to a first title since 2020. They face the Houston Rockets first up.

With defending Eastern Conference champions the Indiana Pacers failing to make the postseason, the scene is set for the number 1 seeded Detroit Pistons to have a first tilt at the Finals in two decades. They face the Orlando Magic first, followed by the winners of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics – the latter of which won the whole thing in 2024 thanks to the likes of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are also hoping to go far in the East this postseason.

Here’s where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams online from anywhere.

NBA’s YouTube channel).

Look out for free trials on streaming services where you are, with streamers such as YouTube TV (5-day free trial) in the US and Kayo Sports (7-day free trial) in Australia both letting you try their platforms for free.

best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a discount of up to 76%.

ESPN Unlimited), NBC (on TV and through the Peacock streaming service) and Amazon Prime Video will all show games through the postseason. You can discover which games will be broadcast by which channels in our ‘Schedule’ section below.

The Finals are set to be broadcast exclusively by ABC and ESPN Unlimited.

If you’re a cord cutter wanting to watch as much coverage as possible with one subscription, you could try Sling TV’s Orange + Blue plan for $61 per month, which carries ESPN, and ABC and NBC in selected cities.

Alternative services carrying all of the required channels (other than Prime) are YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, both of which offer free trials for new users.

Sportsnet+ ($29.99 a month / $249.99 a year) and TSN+ ($8 a month / $80 a year) streaming platforms.

If you already subscribe to these services but find yourself outside Canada, download a VPN and watch NBA games as if you were back at home.

Amazon Prime Video in the UK.

Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month or you can get a more flexible Now Sports membership starting from £14.99 for a day pass. While Amazon Prime costs £95 a year or £8.99 a month after its 30-day free trial.

Alternatively, die-hard fans might want to check out NBA League Pass, which costs from £16.99 a month or £37.99 for the remainder of the season and unlocks access to every single game of the 2026 Playoffs.

Outside the UK? You’ll might need to download a VPN, as detailed above, to watch your usual stream from abroad.

Foxtel Now).

All ESPN games can also be streamed through your choice of either the excellent sports streaming platform Kayo Sports (from $30 a month after a 7-day free trial or your first month for $1) or Disney Plus (from $15.99 a month or $159.99 for a year).

For the most comprehensive coverage, there’s also the NBA League Pass, from $24.99 a month or $49.99 for the entirety of the Playoffs.

Not in Australia right now? Use a VPN if you’re away from home, in order to tap into your usual domestic NBA coverage from anywhere.

NBA League Pass is available worldwide and showing the 2026 Playoffs. Click through to see the pricing and games available where you are.

Many countries also show games on TV and online through their domestic broadcasters:

Americas

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Caribbean & Central America

You can watch the 2025/26 NBA season unfold on ESPN across the Caribbean and in Central American countries (including Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama).

B-ball fans in the Caribbean and Mexico will also be able to watch a selection of games on Amazon Prime Video.

ESPN has the broadcast rights to the 2025/26 NBA season across Latin America. That includes:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (games also on Amazon Prime Video), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Europe

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Albanians will be able to watch NBA basketball on Tring Sport.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova & Ukraine

Setanta Sports has the rights to show NBA basketball in these countries.

Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, San Marino & Switzerland

Sky will show the NBA Playoffs 2026 action in these countries, with Amazon Prime Video also having rights to show some games.

Pay TV provider Arena Sport holds the NBA rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Live NBA is shown by Go3 Sport in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Belgium, Spain, Andorra & Luxembourg

Specialist sports streamer DAZN has the rights to 2025/26 NBA basketball in these countries, with Amazon Prime Video also hosting games.

You can watch NBA action on Diema Sport in Bulgaria.

Sport Klub and Prime Video have the rights to the NBA here.

CYTA has the rights in Cyprus,

Czech Republic & Slovakia

Nova Sport has the rights to show NBA Playoffs 2026 games on television in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

NBA coverage is available via beIN Sports and Amazon Prime Video in France.

Cosmote Sport and Prime Video have NBA rights in Greece.

Sport1 will air coverage of the 2025/26 NBA season in Hungary.

You’ll need access to Stöð 2 Sport to watch the NBA.

NBA games will be shown on Sky Sports and Amazon Prime Video in Ireland.

ESPN holds the rights to the NBA in the Netherlands.

NBA coverage in Norway is shared between Rex and HBO Max.

Sport TV is the main NBA rights-holder in Portugal, with Prime Video also showing games.

Antena Play is set to stream games in Romania.

Turkey’s listed NBA broadcasters are S Sport and Prime Video.

NBA’s YouTube channel in India.

Indonesia’s broadcasters are Emtek and Prime Video.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Residents of these Central Asian countries can watch the NBA on Setanta Sports.

Japanese NBA fans will need access to Lemino and Prime Video.

NBA will show on M Plus in Macau.

Astro SuperSport has NBA rights in Malaysia.

Those in Mongolia can watch on Premier Sports Network and Prime Video.

NBA coverage in the Philippines is shared between One Sports, NBA TV Philippines and Prime Video.

Starhub and Prime Video have NBA rights in Singapore.

Coupang Play and Prime Video are showing NBA games in Korea.

NBA coverage in Taiwan is shared between Videoland, Prime Video and ELTA TV.

AIS Play and Prime Video are the broadcasters here.

NBA will be shown on Varzish TV.

NBA fans in Vietnam can watch live action thanks to FPT.

@NBA), Instagram (nba), Facebook (NBA) TikTok (@nba) and YouTube (@NBA).

NBA Playoffs 2026 Schedule and TV Channels

* denotes ‘If required’

Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic
Game 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 6.30pm ET / 3.30pm PT / 11.30pm BST on NBC/Peacock
Game 2 – Wed, Apr. 22 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Thu) on ESPN
Game 3 – Sat, Apr. 25 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST on Peacock/NBCSN
Game 4 – Mon, Apr. 27 at TBD
*Game 5 – Wed, Apr. 29 at TBD
*Game 6 – Fri, May 1 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sun, May 3 at TBD

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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
Game 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST on ABC
Game 2 – Tue, Apr. 21 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Wed) on Peacock/NBCSN
Game 3 – Fri, Apr. 24 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Sat) on Prime
Game 4 – Sun, Apr. 26 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Mon) on NBC
*Game 5 – Tue, Apr. 28 at TBD
*Game 6 – Thu, Apr. 30 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sat, May 2 at TBD

New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks
Game 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 6pm ET / 3pm PT / 11pm BST on Prime
Game 2 – Mon, Apr. 20 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am BST (Tue) on NBC/Peacock
Game 3 – Thu, Apr. 23 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Fri) on Prime
Game 4 – Sat, Apr. 25 at 6pm ET / 3pm PT / 11pm BST on NBC/Peacock
*Game 5 – Tue, Apr. 28 at TBD
*Game 6 – Thu, Apr. 30 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sat, May 2 at TBD

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors
Game 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 1pm ET / 10am ET / 6pm BST on Prime/SNO
Game 2 – Mon, Apr. 20 at 7pm ET / 4pm ET / 12am BST (Tue) on Peacock/NBCSN, TSN
Game 3 – Thu, Apr. 23 at 8pm ET / 5pm ET / 1am BST (Fri) on Prime/SNO
Game 4 – Sun, Apr. 26 at 1pm ET / 10am ET / 6pm BST on ESPN, TSN
*Game 5 – Wed, Apr. 29 at TBD
*Game 6 – Fri, May 1 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sun, May 3 at TBD

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Phoenix Suns
Game 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on ABC
Game 2 – Wed, Apr. 22 at 9.30pm ET / 6.30pm PT / 2.30am BST (Thu) on ESPN
Game 3 – Sat, Apr. 25 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on NBC/Peacock
Game 4 – Mon, Apr. 27 at TBD
*Game 5 – Wed, Apr. 29 at TBD
*Game 6 – Fri, May 1 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sun, May 3 at TBD

San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers
Game 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT / 2am BST (Mon) on NBC/Peacock
Game 2 – Tue, Apr. 21 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am BST (Wed) on NBC/Peacock
Game 3 – Fri, Apr. 24 at 10.30pm ET / 7.30pm PT / 3.30am BST (Sat) on Prime
Game 4 – Sun, Apr. 26 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on ESPN
*Game 5 – Tue, Apr. 28 at TBD
*Game 6 – Thu, Apr. 30 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sat, May 2 at TBD

Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on Prime
Game 2 – Mon, Apr. 20 at 10.30pm ET / 7.30pm PT / 3.30am BST (Tue) on NBC/Peacock
Game 3 – Thu, Apr. 23 at 9.30pm ET / 6.30pm PT / 2.30am BST (Fri) on Prime
Game 4 – Sat, Apr. 25 at 8.30pm ET / 5.30pm PT / 1.30am BST (Sun) on ABC
*Game 5 – Mon, Apr. 27 at TBD
*Game 6 – Thu, Apr. 30 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sat, May 2 at TBD

Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets
Game 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 8.30pm ET / 5.30pm ET / 1.30am BST (Sun) on ABC
Game 2 – Tue, Apr. 21 at 10.30pm ET / 7.30pm PT / 3.30am BST (Wed) on NBC/Peacock
Game 3 – Fri, Apr. 24 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am BST (Sat) on Prime
Game 4 – Sun, Apr. 26 at 9.30pm ET / 6.30pm PT / 2.30am BST (Mon) on NBC/Peacock
*Game 5 – Wed, Apr. 29 at TBD
*Game 6 – Fri, May 1 at TBD
*Game 7 – Sun, May 3 at TBD

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