The Cord Cutting Report

How to watch the NBA Finals

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Watching the NBA Finals without a cable TV subscription is easier than ever. 

The Boston Celtics are back in the finals for the first time in 12 years. On Thursday, the Celtics will face the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are aiming for its fourth championship in eight seasons.

All games will be televised on ABC and simulcast on ESPN Deportes, giving cord-cutters a number of good options to watch. 

The series tips off Thursday in San Francisco. The Warriors beat the Celtics on Dec. 17, 111-107 at TD Garden. But the Celts dominated the Warriors, 110-88, when the two teams met again at the Chase Center on March 16. 

Needless to say, this year’s finals promises to be unpredictable and very memorable for basketball fans. 

The best deal in streaming right now is coming from DIRECTV STREAM. The live TV streamer has a 5-day free trial with no obligations Subscribers get $15 off per month for the first two months of service. That lowers the price to $54.99 per month. 

Whether you own a Smart TV, a Roku or TV antenna, here are all the best options for watching every game.

Table of Contents

NBA Finals Schedule 2022

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(photo illustration: The Cord Cutting Report)

The NBA Finals are played as a best-of-seven series. The Eastern and Western conference champions play against each other to determine the league champion.

Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors

  • Game 1: Thursday, June 2, 9 p.m., at Chase Center, San Francisco
  • Game 2: Sunday, June 5, 8 p.m., at Chase Center, San Francisco
  • Game 3: Wednesday, June 8, 9 p.m., at TD Garden
  • Game 4: Friday, June 10, 9 p.m., at TD Garden
  • Game 5: Monday, June 13, 9 p.m., at Chase Center, San Francisco (if needed)
  • Game 6: Thursday, June 16, 9 p.m., at TD Garden (if needed)
  • Game 7: Sunday, June 19, 8 p.m., at Chase Center, San Francisco (if needed)

How to Watch the NBA Finals for Free

There is an easy and legal way to watch the NBA Finals for free without any kind of streaming service.

Using a TV antenna is the least expensive way to get a High Definition signal from a local ABC station. People living within 30 to 40 miles of broadcast towers have an excellent shot at getting local channels with a quality TV antenna. 

You can use the free tool at AntennasDirect to see whether ABC is available in your area. Local channels broadcast digital signals in 1080i or 720p, which is High Definition. 

Here is a list of resources that I have written to get you started with TV antennas.

Can I watch the NBA Finals on Roku or Fire TV Stick for free?

Most live TV streaming services have a free trial that lasts a week without any obligation.

Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you decide that the streaming service isn’t for you. When you cancel online before the free trial ends, you won’t be billed. 

These services support Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and a number of Smart TVs. 

All you need to start streaming is an Internet connection. Which streaming services have free trials and the NBA Finals? Keep reading for the details on each service. 

DIRECTV STREAM

A DIRECTV STREAM subscription includes local ABC stations in its entry-level channel bundle. 

The Entertainment plan has 65+ channels. Subscribers can watch live TV on up to 20 screens at once. DIRECTV STREAM has a 5-day free trial with no obligations.

Subscribers get $15 off per month for the first two months of service. That lowers the price to $54.99 per month. The regular price of $69.99 per month kicks in after that.

ESPN, ESPN2 and FS1 are included in the channel lineup. You get unlimited Cloud DVR and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows. DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want. 

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up. 

fuboTV

fuboTV carries local ABC stations, ESPN and key sports networks as part of a Pro channel lineup. The Pro plan has 122 channels total.

ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and Golf Channel are included. You can watch live TV on three screens at once.

Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR. You can activate more than 40 apps for channels that are in your lineup. Fubo works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android smartphones.   

A subscription costs $69.99 per month. fuboTV has a library of on-demand movies and TV shows. 

fuboTV works on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV devices. There are mobile apps for iPhones, Android and you can watch on web browsers. 

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial without obligation.

Hulu with Live TV

Hulu with Live TV has 75+ live TV channels, including ABC, ESPN, TNT and History.

You can watch live TV on up to two screens at once. Subscribers get more than just live TV channels to watch. You’ll also have full access to ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu’s on-demand library. 

ESPN+ has the latest 30 for 30 episodes and daily MLB games. Disney+ is now streaming the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

Hulu with Live TV comes with unlimited Cloud DVR so you can record sports and other live TV shows.

A subscription costs $69.99 per month. Hulu does not currently have a free trial for its live TV service. But you can look over the channel lineup to see if it’s a good fit.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV has 85+ channels, including ABC, for $64.99 per month.

Subscribers will be able to watch the NBA Finals live on ABC. There are YouTube TV apps for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Smart TVs with Google TV. 

You can stream on up to two devices at once. YouTube TV also has channels like CNN, FS1 and TNT. You can try out YouTube TV with a free 7-day trial.

What’s the best way to stream the NBA Finals?

DIRECTV STREAM has the best deal going for streaming the NBA Finals live. The live TV service has a 5-day free trial.  

You get $15 off per month for the first two months of service if you keep your subscription. That lowers the price to $54.99 per month. The cost returns to the regular rate of $69.99 per month after that if you keep the service.

Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast with Google TV and select Samsung Smart TVs. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.

NBA Finals FAQ

How do I watch the NBA Finals?

The NBA Finals are being televised on ABC. 

You can watch the games on DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, and YouTube TV without a cable subscription.

Can you watch the NBA Finals on Sling TV?

No. If you’re a Sling TV customer, you won’t find ABC in your channel lineup. ABC used to be offered under Sling TV’s old “Broadcast Bundle”, but that package went away in 2019. 

What channel is the NBA Finals on?

The NBA Finals are broadcast on ABC. A Spanish-language broadcast is on ESPN Deportes. 

Can you watch the NBA Finals on ESPN+?

No. You can only watch the 2022 NBA Finals on ABC and ESPN Deportes. ESPN+ will not stream any of the NBA Finals.

Can I watch the NBA Finals on ESPN3 or the ESPN app?

Activating the ESPN app allows you to watch live sports airing on ABC. But you need a pay-TV subscription to do so.

Subscribers to Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV (Orange plan) and YouTube TV can activate the ESPN app. 

Where to Watch ESPN Deportes

The NBA Finals will be simulcast on ESPN Deportes for a Spanish language broadcast. 

You can add ESPN Deportes on the:

  • Deportes bundle on DIRECTV STREAM for another $5 per month. 
  • Espanol add-on through Hulu + Live TV for $4.99 per month. 
  • fuboTV’s Latino plan has 44 Spanish language channels, including ESPN Deportes, for $32.99 per month. There is no free trial for the Latino plan.

YouTube TV currently does not carry ESPN Deportes.

Can I watch the NBA Finals on XBox?

fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV all have supported apps on XBox game consoles. 

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.