Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs See at NBA Streams out-of-market games NBA League Pass See at YouTube Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, TNT and some RSNs YouTube TV: $73 See at Fubo Carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and most RSNs but not TNT Fubo: $80 See at Hulu Carries ESPN, ABC, TBS, TNT and some RSNs Hulu Plus Live TV: $83
Show more (2 items)
The NBA season is well underway and we’ve reached the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, with two games tonight on TNT and two tomorrow night on ESPN. The winners of each game will head to Vegas to play in the semifinals on Saturday night on TNT, with the championship next Tuesday night on ABC. The rest of the league returns to action on Thursday and Friday, and ramps back up as we begin to approach the Christmas Day games and the midway point of the regular season. NBA fans looking to stream their team throughout the year will need access to a few different services to catch every game. In addition to your regular regional sports network — the local channel that carries your team’s games week in and week out — you’ll also need ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV for nationally televised contests. The NBA’s new media deals, which will see Amazon’s Prime Video and NBC/Peacock replace TNT, start next year for the 2025-26 season. Yes, TNT still has the NBA this season. All out-of-market games will continue to air on NBA League Pass, which is an excellent choice if you follow a team in a different city from where you live. Getting the service for the full season (with the NBA TV channel included) costs $110, while a Premium option that includes in-arena feeds in place of commercials and the ability to watch three games at once runs $160 for the season. It’s important to note that local fans aren’t able to watch their team play on League Pass, as broadcasts of these contests air exclusively on regional sports networks. National games are similarly blacked out.While you absolutely don’t need cable to watch basketball this year, it still might be the easiest and cheapest choice depending on where you live.Read more: How to Watch NFL Games With or Without Cable in 2024 Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks are looking to win their first NBA Cup. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty ImagesLive TV streaming services vs. cableAs usual, die-hard sports fans are beholden to regional sports networks that carry the majority of the games for their local team(s). Examples include MSG in the New York area and Spectrum SportsNet in Los Angeles. These RSNs are usually included in local cable packages, so most cable subscribers never have to worry about gaining access to the broadcasts on these channels: They can simply turn on the TV and watch the game. Cord-cutting basketball fans have a tougher path. Because of rights agreements, CNET’s favorite live TV streaming services like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV don’t carry many RSNs. DirecTV Stream and Fubo are the exceptions; both offer numerous RSNs, including the FanDuel Sports channels (formerly Ballys), but they’re more expensive than other options. Fubo also still lacks TNT. Ultimately, depending on your location, getting a cable subscription that includes ESPN, ABC, TNT and the local RSN might actually be cheaper and easier than streaming — especially if it’s bundled with the home internet you’ll likely be getting anyway.Read more: DirecTV Stream Review: Expensive, but the Best Option for Streaming NBA and NHLWhat’s going on with FanDuel Sports Network, Bally Sports, AT&T SportsNet and other regional sports networks? Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty ImagesDiamond Sports Group, which owns what’s now called FanDuel Sports Network (formerly known as the Bally Sports regional sports networks), has been dealing with bankruptcy filings, and it remains to be seen what this means for watching basketball on those RSNs this season. FanDuel Sports Network airs games for 13 teams, or close to half the league. For now, games will air on those stations as they always have, but the situation could change. FanDuel Sports Networks’ NBA teams include the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs. The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans were on FanDuel Sports Network last year, but both have now gone on their own and will make their local games available for free over-the-air (with an antenna). Best Antennas in 2024The Chicago Bulls also have a new home, with games this season airing on a newly created Chicago Sports Network instead of NBC Sports Chicago. Right now the channel requires a cable or satellite package with a free over-the-air antenna option only available in certain areas (with more promised to be coming soon). The Phoenix Suns (formerly on Bally Sports) and Utah Jazz (previously on AT&T SportsNet) already announced new partners last year and both have led the charge in making their games available for free with an antenna. The Houston Rockets (formerly on AT&T SportsNet), meanwhile, are now on Space City Home Network, which the team created in partnership with baseball’s Houston Astros after the clubs acquired their local SportsNet channel from Warner Bros. Discovery. What about streaming just my team? In addition to making their games available locally over-the-air, the Suns and Jazz have also launched new streaming services for those looking to stream in-market.The Suns’ streaming service runs $110 for the season (the monthly cost remains $15), while the Jazz’s service runs $125.50 for the year (or $20 per month if paying monthly). A Jazz option that also includes the new Utah Hockey Club’s NHL games is $175 for the season.They aren’t alone either. Other teams offering their own in-market streaming options include the Portland Trail Blazers (BlazerVision, $90 for the remainder of the season), Los Angeles Lakers (Spectrum SportsNet Plus, $20 monthly, $195 annually), Los Angeles Clippers (ClipperVision, $20 monthly or $125 for the season) and Washington Wizards (Monumental Sports Network, $20 monthly or $200 annually). The Brooklyn Nets (YES Network, $20 monthly or $240 annually) and New York Knicks (MSG Plus, $30 monthly, $280 annually) have teamed up on a new joint venture for New York teams called Gotham Sports. This lets you get either team individually or as a bundle together ($360 annually or $42 monthly). The YES Network airs Nets and MLB’s Yankees games while MSG Plus has the Knicks plus the NHL’s Rangers, Islanders and Devils. For those who still have teams with FanDuel Sports Network, you can actually get the channel without subscribing to cable. The streaming service offers users in its coverage area a way to stream just the FanDuel Sports Network channels. The service generally costs $20 a month or around $190 a year for your local FanDuel Sports channel, including NBA and NHL games (plus MLB games in certain areas). In markets where you normally have two different FanDuel Sports channels, you can choose to only buy one or you can bundle them together for $30 a month. While the normal pricing is $190 annually, the service is currently offering an option to sign up for a full season in certain markets at $108 for a “season pass.” FanDuel Sports Plus uses your billing ZIP code to determine which channels are available to you, though you’ll be able to log into your channels from anywhere in the country. You can check your options at FanDuel Sports Network’s website here. It is worth noting that this option does not include national games like the ones that are broadcast on ABC, ESPN or TNT. This service is only available for those whose billing ZIP code falls in locations covered by FanDuel Sports Network channels. Users can pay $20 a month or $190 a year for streaming access to their local FanDuel Sports Network channel without cable ($125 if you want just through the season). Those who live in areas covered by multiple FanDuel Sports networks will be able to bundle them together for $25 or $30 a month or pick one network for $20. NBA League Pass, NBA TV and blackouts Multiview in the NBA app. NBAFor NBA fans looking to watch a lot of out-of-market basketball, a subscription to NBA League Pass has plenty to offer. You can get the whole NBA slate for $110 for the season, with commercials and one device, or $160 for the season for a “Premium” option that includes in-arena feeds instead of commercials and the ability to watch on three devices at once (though the price is up from $130 last year). There are some new features this year, including multiview which lets you watch multiple games at once in the NBA app. Those interested in following only a single team can buy a Team Pass for $90 for the season. College students who are actively enrolled can get 40% off the monthly price of the regular League Pass (normally $15 per month). The catch, of course, with any League Pass plan is “out-of-market.” Most fans are in-market, meaning they follow the local team, and unfortunately for them RSNs have broadcast exclusivity in the region that they cover. That means local NBA games are blacked out on NBA League Pass.If you’re living in Los Angeles, for example, you won’t be able to watch Lakers or Clippers games on NBA League Pass. The same goes for Knicks or Nets fans in New York, Bucks fans in Milwaukee and so on. The only way to watch most of those home team games in your home market is to get a service that has the local RSN, namely Spectrum SportsNet, FanDuel Sports Network SoCal, MSG Network, YES Network or FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin. Services like NBA League Pass use IP addresses to block out games in viewers’ regions — you’ll just get a black screen or message telling you it’s unavailable if you try to watch those games. That’s why League Pass is ideal for those who want to follow one or more of the teams based in cities other than their own, aka out-of-market teams, but for local fans it’s not as useful. Some RSNs, particularly the FanDuel Sports Networks and other options mentioned above, will allow you to pay for their channel without signing up for cable or a streaming TV service. NBA League Pass is perfect for catching out-of-market NBA action. While it doesn’t allow you to stream games airing in your local city or on national TV, with its $100 starting price (and bundling of NBA TV), it is ideal for fans looking to keep up with everything happening around the league. NBA CrunchTime: Like free RedZone, but for some NBA nightsThe NBA last year began offering its own spin on the popular NFL RedZone channel with a “whip around” show it calls CrunchTime. This show, available for free on the NBA app, bounces around live games and is designed to show you all the action, particularly close contests. In the past, most of these “CrunchTime days” took place on Monday nights, but there were times when the league would stream it on other days. A 2024-25 schedule hasn’t yet been released. You don’t need League Pass or any other subscription to watch CrunchTime, making this a more accessible way to get your basketball fix, even if it’s just one day a week. You will need the NBA app and to make an NBA ID (both of which are free). What about NBC, Peacock and Prime Video? As mentioned, the NBA’s new media deals, which will see Amazon’s Prime Video and NBC/Peacock replace TNT, start next year for the 2025-26 season. For this season there are no changes when it comes to the major networks. DirecTV Stream: Simplest for fans of the local team at $113 for Choice packageFor those determined to watch their local basketball team without a cable or satellite TV subscription, a live TV streaming service is the best bet. While it is pricey, DirecTV Stream is the best option for most people, particularly those where the local games air on FanDuel Sports Networks or those looking for the YES Network (Nets fans in New York) or Spectrum SportsNet (Lakers fans in Los Angeles). DirecTV Stream requires its $113-per-month Choice package to get RSNs (that price includes various fees the company levels on top of the sticker price), though this option also includes ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV, so you should be all set for basketball. If you live in a FanDuel area, you could pair a FanDuel Sports Plus package with something like Sling Orange and save a few bucks per month. Same for those in New York, Phoenix, Utah or Washington, DC, who can pair their RSNs streaming option with a cheaper TV provider. Sling Orange runs $40 per month and includes ESPN and TNT while FanDuel Sports Network or those local RSN options — as mentioned above — generally run $20 to $30 per month depending on your area and your team. Getting NBA TV runs $11 per month with the Sports Extra add-on. All told, however, you’d be paying $51 monthly for Sling (including the add-on for NBA TV) and another $20 or $30 for an RSN, which could be a sizable savings compared with DirecTV. It is worth noting that you will need to switch between different apps to stream everything. Another possible pairing is Fubo, which has the FanDuel Sports RSNs as well as a handful of others, and a streaming service like Max. Fubo lacks TNT, but Max has begun streaming live sports under its Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports banner. You will need to get a Max subscription, which starts at $10 per month for the ad-supported version. Combined with Fubo, that’s $95 per month for live basketball. Below is a chart of all of the NBA teams in the US and their corresponding RSNs. Note: None of the (US-based) services carry the RSN for the Toronto Raptors (TSN). Fans in the US looking to watch Pascal Siakam and co. need to use NBA League Pass to get all the games that aren’t either on your local RSN or on a US national broadcast.RSN availability by team and streaming service TeamNetwork Name Atlanta Hawks FanDuel Sports Network SoutheastBoston Celtics NBC Sports BostonBrooklyn Nets YES NetworkCharlotte Hornets FanDuel Sports Network SoutheastChicago Bulls Chicago Sports NetworkCleveland Cavaliers FanDuel Sports Network OhioDallas Mavericks TEGNA/WFAA Ch. 8Denver Nuggets AltitudeDetroit Pistons FanDuel Sports Network DetroitGolden State Warriors NBC Sports Bay AreaHouston Rockets Space City Home NetworkIndiana Pacers FanDuel Sports Network IndianaLos Angeles Clippers FanDuel Sports Network SoCal/ClippersVisionLos Angeles Lakers Spectrum SportsNetMemphis Grizzlies FanDuel Sports Network SoutheastMiami Heat FanDuel Sports Network SunMilwaukee Bucks FanDuel Sports Network WisconsinMinnesota Timberwolves FanDuel Sports Network NorthNew Orleans Pelicans Grey Media/Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment NetworkNew York Knicks MSGOklahoma City Thunder FanDuel Sports Network OklahomaOrlando Magic FanDuel Sports Network FloridaPhiladelphia 76ers NBC Sports PhiladelphiaPhoenix Suns Arizona’s Family/SunsVisionPortland Trail Blazers BlazersVisionSacramento Kings NBC Sports CaliforniaSan Antonio Spurs FanDuel Sports Network SouthwestUtah Jazz KJZZWashington Wizards Monumental Sports Network Some key takeaways:The RSNs above are typically available only to local subscribers. Refer to the individual service’s details below to find out if you live in a place where you can receive a particular RSN. The Chicago Sports Network (Bulls) and options for the Mavericks and Pelicans aren’t the clearest yet when it comes to streaming. It’s worth keeping an eye on this as we get closer to the season and rights deals are finalized. DirecTV Stream’s Choice package includes NBA TV and most of the RSNs for basketball, with the exception of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Sixers fans hoping to watch Joel Embiid and co. will have to look elsewhere. They could jump over to Fubo, Hulu Plus Live TV or YouTube TV, which all carry NBC Sports Philadelphia, but fans of other teams will mostly be out of luck. While Fubo has most of the league covered, Hulu Plus Live TV and YouTube TV only have a small collection of RSNs. Sling TV doesn’t offer a single RSN.NBC Sports Washington is now the Monumental Sports Network. The Houston Rockets now play on Space City Home Network (formerly AT&T SportsNet Southwest). DirecTV Stream is expensive. It’s the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services, but it’s also the one with the most RSNs. Its cheapest $90-a-month Entertainment package includes ESPN, ABC and TNT. You’ll need to move up to the $113-a-month Choice plan to get any available RSN as well as NBA TV. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels and RSNs are available in your area. Best options for nationally broadcast gamesAside from DirecTV Stream and Fubo, the odds are long that a live TV streaming service carries the RSN for your local team’s games, which makes the other four services better bets for watching nationally televised games. It’s worth mentioning that for the in-season tournament, quarterfinal games on Dec. 4 and 5 will air on TNT, the semifinals on Dec. 7 will air on TNT and ESPN, and the championship on Dec. 9 will air on ABC. Sling TV’s Orange plan includes ESPN, and both plans offer TBS too, but neither of them gives you access to ABC or the regional sports networks found on more expensive services. NBA TV is available as part of the Sports Extra add-on, which costs $11 a month for either the Blue or Orange plan or $15 for the combined Orange-and-Blue plan. The individual plans cost $40 a month each, and the Orange-and-Blue plan costs $55 a month (in some areas, Blue may be $45 per month and the combo will run $60 monthly). You can see which local channels you get here.It’s worth noting that ABC is included with the Blue plan in some markets, the Orange plan includes ESPN3 access which allows for watching those games. YouTube TV costs $73 a month and offers six RSNs for basketball, along with all of the national broadcasts including NBA TV. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks and RSNs are available in your area. Hulu Plus Live TV costs $83 a month and carries a handful of RSNs for basketball, along with 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 and RSNs are available where you live. 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.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘set’, ‘autoConfig’, false, ‘789754228632403’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘789754228632403’);
