The Ultimate Guide to Streaming NBA Games in 2025 – All Free and Paid Options
Big changes are here for basketball fans in 2025. There’s no more NBA on TNT, and games will be available on new streaming platforms. Here’s everything you need to know as your heroes hit the hardwood.
NBA Overview
To watch the NBA this season, there are 3 kinds of games to consider.
Nationally Televised Games: There are 247 nationally televised games this year. Games will air on ABC, NBC, ESPN, and NBA TV. All of those channels are available with live TV providers like DIRECTV, Fubo, YouTube TV, and Sling TV. Streaming-exclusive games will appear on Peacock, and Prime Video.
Regionally Televised Games: Your provider depends on where you live. Some teams offer games free over-the-air with an antenna. Some teams require a subscription to a specific channel or streaming service. (See below.)
Out-of-Market Games: When your favorite team plays away from home and the game isn’t nationally televised, you can watch with NBA League Pass.
$16.99/mo.
How to Watch NBA Games for Free
Some NBA games are available for free if you’re willing to use different services.
Choosing Free Trials for Short-Term NBA Access
Most live TV providers offer free trials. DIRECTV and Fubo offer the most regional sports networks, so those are a good place to start. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV offer far fewer regional sports networks, but those are secondary options with free trials.
Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial so you can watch those games at no cost.
You can also try a free trial of NBA League Pass to watch out-of-market games. Some local broadcasters like FanDuel Sports Network and Chicago Sports Network also offer free trials. Most do not.
It’s worth trying several different streamers for free to see which is worth paying for. (I like DIRECTV, but you may prefer another option.)
Watching NBA Games with an Antenna
A good antenna is part of any smart cord-cutter’s lineup. You’ll be able to watch the NBC and ABC games for free over-the-air. Some teams like the Pelicans, Suns, and Jazz broadcast more than 70 of their local games for free over-the-air.
Channel Master FLATenna
Use this great indoor antenna to pick up free HD and digital signals with a 35-mile range. Watch ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and more for free forever!
Streaming Nationally Televised NBA Games
No matter where you live, you can stream several nationally televised NBA games. Those games will appear on ABC, NBC, ESPN, NBA TV, Peacock, and Prime Video.
Regional Sports Networks and Regional NBA Streamers
If you live in the viewing area of your favorite team, you’re in luck! You’ll have access to a regional broadcast to see more games when your team plays at home. In almost every case, DIRECTV is the smartest option with the most basketball for your buck.
If you don’t want any channels outside the regional sports network, most teams offer a standalone streamer. Consult the chart below for your options.
$19.99/mo.
| NBA Team | Linear Channel | Providers | Streamer | Streamer Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Boston Celtics | NBC Sports Boston | DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Peacock | $7.99 + $14.95/mo. |
| Brooklyn Nets | YES Network | DIRECTV, Fubo | Gotham Sports App | $24.99/mo. or $239.99/year; upgrade to include Knicks for $41.99/mo. or $359.99/yr |
| Charlotte Hornets | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago Sports Network | DIRECTV, Fubo | Chicago Sports Network | Bulls only $19.99/month; upgrade to include Blackhawks and White Sox for $29.99/mo. |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Dallas Mavericks | KFAA, and more local affiliates | DIRECTV, Fubo | MavsTV + OTA 70+ games | $14.99/mo. or $99.99/yr |
| Denver Nuggets | Altitude Sports | DIRECTV, Fubo | Altitude+ | $19.95/mo. |
| Detroit Pistons | FanDuel Sports Network Detroit | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Golden State Warriors | NBC Sports Bay Area | DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Peacock | $7.99 + $17.95/mo. |
| Houston Rockets | Space City Home Network | DIRECTV, Fubo | None | |
| Indiana Pacers | FanDuel Sports Network Indiana | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Los Angeles Clippers | FanDuel Sports Network SoCal | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Spectrum SportsNet | DIRECTV | Spectrum SportsNet+ | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Miami Heat | FanDuel Sports Network Sun | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Milwaukee Bucks | FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | FanDuel Sports Network North | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network | DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Pelicans+ or OTA 70+ games | $14.99 or $99.99/season |
| New York Knicks | MSG Network | DIRECTV, Fubo | Gotham Sports App | $29.99 or $279.99/year OR $41.99/mo $359.99/year w/ YES for Nets |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Orlando Magic | FanDuel Sports Network Florida | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Philadelphia 76ers | NBC Sports Philadelphia | Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Peacock | $7.99 + $24.95/mo. |
| Phoenix Suns | Arizona’s Family | DIRECTV, Fubo | Suns+ or OTA | $14.99 or $109.99/year |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Rip City TV Network | DIRECTV, Fubo | BlazerVision | $120/season |
| Sacramento Kings | NBC Sports California | DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Peacock | $7.99 + $17.95/mo. |
| San Antonio Spurs | FanDuel Sports Network Southwest | DIRECTV, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/mo. or $189.99/yr |
| Utah Jazz | KJZZ | DIRECTV | Jazz+ or OTA | Jazz+ is $19.99 or $125.50/yr |
| Washington Wizards | Monumental Sports Network | DIRECTV | Monumental+ | $19.99/mo or $199.99/year |
Out-of-Market NBA Streaming
If you live away from your favorite team’s home area, you’ll need NBA League Pass. Start with a 7-day free trial.
There are 3 options with NBA League Pass. You can follow just one team with the Team Pass for $13.99/month or get every out-of-market game for every team with League Pass for $16.99. If you choose League Pass Premium ($24.99), you can download games and watch the in-arena feed instead of commercials. Both League Pass options include access to NBA TV.
$16.99/mo.
NBA Streaming Services Comparison
Watching NBA with DIRECTV
DIRECTV is your best bet for watching NBA games. It offers all the channels you may need. The MySports package is very affordable and gives you all the key NBA channels. If you want your regional sports network, you can add the MyHome Team package. The only regional channel DIRECTV doesn’t have is NBC Sports Philadelphia.
| Tier | NBC | ABC | ESPN | NBA TV | Regional Channnels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyNews ($39.99) | Yes | ||||
| MySports ($69.99) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| MyHome Team (+$19.99) | Yes | ||||
| Entertainment ($99.99) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Choice ($124.98) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ultimate ($154.98) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Premier ($199.98) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sports Pack ($14.99) | Yes |
$34.99/mo.+
Watching NBA with Fubo
Fubo offers the second-best regional sports lineup Depending where you live, you may have access to the $55.99 Fubo Sports + News bundle, but that doesn’t have NBC. Fubo is generally too expensive for what you get. I’d recommend another service.
| Tier | NBC | ABC | ESPN | NBA TV | Regional Channnels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport + News ($55.99) | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Pro ($100.98) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Elite ($110.98) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
$89.98/mo.
Watching NBA with Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV doesn’t have NBA TV, but it has all the other channels you may need for national games. Its regional lineup is limited to games for the 76ers, Celtics, Warriors, and Kings.
$89.99/mo.
Includes FREE Disney+, ESPN Unlimited, and Hulu on-demand
Watching NBA with Sling TV
Sling’s Orange + Blue plan offers ESPN and NBC. ABC games will be available via ESPN3. NBA TV is available with the Sports Extra add-on.
With Sling TV, NBC is only available in areas near Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hartford, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, San Jose, and Washington, D.C.
If you want, you can get Sling Orange for one day for $4.99, one weekend for $9.99, or one week for $14.99. That would help if you only care about a handful of ESPN games.
Sling does not offer regional sports networks.
| Tier | NBC | ABC | ESPN | NBA TV | Regional Channnels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Limited Cities | No | No | +$11 | No |
| Orange | No | Via ESPN3 | Yes | +$11 | No |
| Orange + Blue | Limited Cities | Via ESPN3 | Yes | +$15 | No |
$45.99/mo.+
Watching NBA with YouTube TV
YouTube TV has has ABC, NBC, ESPN, and NBA TV. Its regional lineup is limited to games for the 76ers, Celtics, Warriors, and Kings.
$82.99/mo.
Watching NBA with Peacock
New for 2025, Peacock will be home to 99 NBA games, including 41 exclusive broadcasts .
Peacock also offers the option to add your regional sports channel as long as you live in the viewing area for the Celtics, 76ers, Kings, or Warriors. Any level of Peacock subscription ($7.99-$16.99/mo.) to access this option.
- Warriors – NBC Sports Bay Area: $17.95/mo.
- Kings – NBC Sports California: $17.95/mo.
- 76ers – NBC Sports Philadelphia: $24.95/mo.
- Celtics – NBC Sports Boston: $14.95/mo.
$16.99/mo.
Watching NBA on Prime Video
Prime Video is home to 67 exclusive games during the regular season. You’ll see them on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
$8.99/mo.
Watching NBA on the ESPN App
You can watch any ESPN NBA games with a subscription to ESPN Unlimited. That comes free with a subscription to DIRECT, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo. You can also choose to bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu. It’s also available as a standalone app.
$12.99-$29.99
NBA Channel Comparison
Watching NBA on NBA TV
NBA TV is home to 60 regular-season games.
To access NBA TV, you’ll need a subscription to DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or NBA League Pass.
Watching NBA on ABC
ABC will air NBA games on Saturdays and Sundays.
You can see these games with DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or ESPN Unlimited.
Watching NBA on NBC
NBC hosts NBA games on Tuesday nights.
You can watch NBC with DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Peacock Premium Plus.
Watching NBA on ESPN
ESPN is your home for NBA games on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Tune in with DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or ESPN Unlimited.
What Happened to the NBA on TNT?
TNT lost its NBA package to Prime Video and NBC/Peacock. You will still see Ernie, Charles, Shaq, and Kenny on some ESPN broadcasts.
Why Choose a Streaming Service for NBA?
Streaming is usually significantly cheaper than cable. You’ll also have greater channel flexibility so you only pay for what you want.
Importantly, there’s no contract with streaming! Sign up for one month or quit before your free trial expires. There’s no downside.
You also don’t need special cable boxes to stream basketball. You can watch with your smart TV, streaming device, phone, tablet, or computer. It’s ultimate flexibility at a better price.
Conclusion
This will be a very messy NBA season with more broadcasters than ever. It’s your call how much you want to spend to watch. Prime Video and Peacock will be necessary for most fans, and you’ll need a live TV provider for the ABC, NBC, ESPN, and NBA TV part of the equation.
I think DIRECTV makes the most sense, especially if you need a regional sports network. YouTube TV would be my second choice.
