How to Watch NBA Games Online (2026 Guide)

Your Options at a Glance

The NBA has one of the most accessible broadcast deals in sports — ABC covers the Finals for free over the air, and League Pass fills in every out-of-market gap. Here's the full picture.

1. Free Over-the-Air (OTA) — Best for Casual Fans

A $25–$40 HD antenna gets you ABC over the air — which carries the NBA Finals, Christmas Day games, and selected playoff matchups. If you only care about the biggest games of the year, this may be all you need.

Check AntennaWeb.org to confirm your local signal strength before buying. Most TVs made after 2007 have a built-in ATSC tuner.

• Covers NBA Finals (all games on ABC), Christmas Day slate, and Sunday/Tuesday national games on NBC
• No monthly fee — one-time antenna cost of $25–$40
• Won't get you ESPN, Peacock, or Prime Video games (those require a subscription)

2. ESPN / ABC — Regular Season & Playoffs

ESPN and ABC are one of the NBA's national homes, carrying a large share of regular-season games and playoff rounds — plus the NBA Finals, which air exclusively on ABC.

The ESPN app now offers a direct streaming plan ($29.99/month, or the cheaper ESPN Select tier at $12.99/month). Some games may still require a TV-provider login.

3. NBC / Peacock & Amazon Prime — The New National Homes

NBA basketball returned to NBC for the 2025-26 season for the first time since 2002. NBC carries Sunday and Tuesday national games plus All-Star weekend, and every NBC game streams on Peacock ($10.99/month).

Amazon Prime Video ($14.99/month)is the NBA's third national partner — it carries exclusive Thursday-night games, the entire Play-In Tournament, and the Emirates NBA Cup knockout rounds. Note: TNT and Max no longer carry NBA games.

4. NBA League Pass — For Out-of-Market Fans

If your team isn't in your local market — or you want to watch multiple teams — NBA League Pass is the cleanest solution. It gives you live and on-demand access to every out-of-market game.

At $14.99/month(or $99.99/season), it's significantly cheaper than the NFL's equivalent. The app works on every major platform including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and mobile.

• In-market games are still blacked out (that's a league rule, not a League Pass limitation)
• Includes condensed replays and full game archives going back several seasons
• Free trial typically available at the start of the season

5. NBA TV — The League's Own Channel

NBA TV carries extra regular season games, many of which aren't on the national networks. At $6.99/monthas a standalone add-on (or included with many cable packages), it's a low-cost way to fill gaps in your coverage.

Our Recommended Setup (By Situation)

• Casual fan, just want the Finals — HD antenna. Free.
• Regular season fan, one team — NBA League Pass ($14.99/mo) covers all away games; antenna handles home broadcast games on ABC.
• Watch everything — the ESPN app + Peacock + Prime Video covers the national slate. Add League Pass for out-of-market games.
• Cut the cord, want it all in one app — YouTube TV ($82.99/mo) includes ESPN, ABC, and NBC. Add League Pass as an addon.

What About VPNs and Blackouts?

In-market blackouts are a league-wide policy — they exist to protect local TV deals, not something streaming services control. A VPN can technically bypass them but violates every platform's terms of service. The legitimate fix is NBA League Pass, which covers every game you can't watch locally.