How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: live streams, schedule, TV channels

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How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: live streams, schedule, TV channels How Tos By Adam Marshall published 20 April 2026

16 teams remain in the hunt for a place in this year's NBA Finals – can OKC go back-to-back?

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• NBA Playoffs 2026: April 18 to June 19 (Finals from June 3)
• Stream on ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock & Amazon Prime (US)
• Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 76%)

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.

Can I watch NBA Playoffs in 2026 for free?

Not easily. NBA basketball is largely stuck behind the paywall around the world – though there are a few ways.

With the sheer amount of games being streamed across the world on Amazon Prime Video, for example, the Playoffs may be the time to take advantage of its 30-day free trial.

And there will be some action shown for free in countries like China (on CCTV) and India (on the 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.

How to watch any NBA Playoffs 2026 stream using a VPN

A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, letting you unlock your usual streaming service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a discount of up to 76%.

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How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams in the US

National coverage of the 2026 Playoffs is shared across a diverse range of broadcasters and streaming platforms. ABC and ESPN (on TV and through 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.

How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams in Canada

In Canada, NBA Playoffs 2026 coverage is shared between Sportsnet and TSN.

That means you can also watch online thanks to their respective 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.

How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams in the UK

NBA Playoffs 2026 action is split between Sky Sports and 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.

How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams in Australia

Aussies can watch NBA Playoff games on ESPN via Foxtel (streamed via 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.

How to watch NBA Playoffs 2026 live streams in Rest of World

With only a few exceptions (e.g. China, Iran, Russia) the 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:

Africa

NBA broadcast rights are held by ESPN, which provides coverage to sub-Saharan countries. Some games in South Africa will also be shown by Amazon Prime Video.

Americas

Click to see more NBA Playoffs 2026 streams▼

• 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.

• South America

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

Click to see more NBA Playoffs 2026 streams▼

• Albania

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.

• Balkans

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

• Baltic states

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.

• Bulgaria

You can watch NBA action on Diema Sport in Bulgaria.

• Croatia & Slovenia

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

• Cyprus

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.

• France

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

• Greece

Cosmote Sport and Prime Video have NBA rights in Greece.

• Hungary

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

• Iceland

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

• Ireland

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

• Netherlands

ESPN holds the rights to the NBA in the Netherlands.

• Norway

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

• Portugal

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

• Romania

Antena Play is set to stream games in Romania.

• Turkey

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

Middle East and North Africa

The NBA Playoffs 2026 rights in MENA countries are generally held by beIN Sports. The exception is Israel, where Sport 5 will show the basketball this year.

Asia

Click to see more NBA Playoffs 2026 streams▼

• China

Tencent, Migu, CCTV and the Shanghai Media Group are all listed as NBA rights-holders in China.

• Hong Kong

Now Sports and Prime Video are set to show NBA Playoffs 2026 basketball in Hong Kong.

• India

The main NBA broadcaster in India will be Amazon Prime Video this season. Some games will also be shown on the NBA's YouTube channel in India.

• Indonesia

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.

• Japan

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

• Macau

NBA will show on M Plus in Macau.

• Malaysia

Astro SuperSport has NBA rights in Malaysia.

• Mongolia

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

• Philippines

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

• Singapore

Starhub and Prime Video have NBA rights in Singapore.

• South Korea

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

• Taiwan

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

• Thailand

AIS Play and Prime Video are the broadcasters here.

• Tajikistan

NBA will be shown on Varzish TV.

• Vietnam

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

Oceania

ESPN and Amazon Prime Video are the official NBA broadcasters in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

(Image credit: Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

When do the 2026 NBA Playoffs start?

The 2026 NBA Playoffs started on Saturday, April 18. This year's NBA Finals are set to begin on Wednesday, June 3.

Can I watch NBA Playoffs 2026 on my mobile?

The vast majority of broadcasters mentioned in this article have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser – for example, Peacock and ESPN in the US and Sky Go in the UK.

You can also stay up-to-date with the latest NBA news and plays on the official social media channels on X (@NBA), Instagram (nba), Facebook (NBA) TikTok (@nba) and YouTube (@NBA).

NBA Playoffs 2026 Schedule and TV Channels

* denotes 'If required'

Detroit Pistons vs Orlando MagicGame 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 6.30pm ET / 3.30pm PT / 11.30pm BST on NBC/PeacockGame 2 – Wed, Apr. 22 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Thu) on ESPNGame 3 – Sat, Apr. 25 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST on Peacock/NBCSNGame 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

Click to see more NBA Playoffs 2026 games▼

Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ersGame 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST on ABCGame 2 – Tue, Apr. 21 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Wed) on Peacock/NBCSNGame 3 – Fri, Apr. 24 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Sat) on PrimeGame 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 HawksGame 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 6pm ET / 3pm PT / 11pm BST on PrimeGame 2 – Mon, Apr. 20 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am BST (Tue) on NBC/PeacockGame 3 – Thu, Apr. 23 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 12am BST (Fri) on PrimeGame 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 RaptorsGame 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 1pm ET / 10am ET / 6pm BST on Prime/SNOGame 2 – Mon, Apr. 20 at 7pm ET / 4pm ET / 12am BST (Tue) on Peacock/NBCSN, TSNGame 3 – Thu, Apr. 23 at 8pm ET / 5pm ET / 1am BST (Fri) on Prime/SNOGame 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 SunsGame 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on ABCGame 2 – Wed, Apr. 22 at 9.30pm ET / 6.30pm PT / 2.30am BST (Thu) on ESPNGame 3 – Sat, Apr. 25 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on NBC/PeacockGame 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 BlazersGame 1 – Sun, Apr. 19 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT / 2am BST (Mon) on NBC/PeacockGame 2 – Tue, Apr. 21 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am BST (Wed) on NBC/PeacockGame 3 – Fri, Apr. 24 at 10.30pm ET / 7.30pm PT / 3.30am BST (Sat) on PrimeGame 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 TimberwolvesGame 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 3.30pm ET / 12.30pm PT / 8.30pm BST on PrimeGame 2 – Mon, Apr. 20 at 10.30pm ET / 7.30pm PT / 3.30am BST (Tue) on NBC/PeacockGame 3 – Thu, Apr. 23 at 9.30pm ET / 6.30pm PT / 2.30am BST (Fri) on PrimeGame 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 RocketsGame 1 – Sat, Apr. 18 at 8.30pm ET / 5.30pm ET / 1.30am BST (Sun) on ABCGame 2 – Tue, Apr. 21 at 10.30pm ET / 7.30pm PT / 3.30am BST (Wed) on NBC/PeacockGame 3 – Fri, Apr. 24 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am BST (Sat) on PrimeGame 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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Adam was formerly the Content Director of Subscriptions and Services at Future, meaning that he oversaw many of the articles TechRadar produces about antivirus software, VPN, TV streaming, broadband and mobile phone contracts - from buying guides and deals news, to industry interest pieces and reviews. Adam has now dusted off his keyboard to write articles for the likes of TechRadar, T3 and Tom's Guide.

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