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The Phoenix Suns are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in 28 years, in what some are saying may be the most improbable outcome in the sport’s history. Their upset win against the LA Clippers is particularly significant for Suns point guard Chris Paul who garnered 19 points on the Staples Center court Wednesday night, for an 130-103 win in Game 6.
Paul’s coronation on the Finals stage comes after a tumultuous playoffs season for the 36 year-old player. He was sidelined for Games 1 and 2, and struggled to find his rhythm when he came back for Games 3 and 4. But he came back strong for the decisive Game 6, dishing out eight assists and shooting a 16-for-24 from the field.
Now, eyes are on the final games of the Western Conference finals this week as the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks duke it out before one team advances to the NBA Finals.
If you’re looking for answers on how to stream this years playoffs, we’ve got the rundown. A variety of streamers are covering the games live from ABC, ESPN, and TNT, meaning you’ll be sure to find a way to watch without cable. Here are the best places to stream the 2021 NBA playoffs, from ESPN+ to Sling TV, here’s our guide.
Thursday, July 1st 2021
Time PT/ET
- 5:30 p.m./8:30 p.m. Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Saturday, July 3rd 2021
Time PT/ET
- 5:30 p.m./8:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Monday, July 5th 2021
Time PT/ET
- 5:30 p.m./8:30 p.m. Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Sling TV
Sling TV is the most affordable way to stream TNT for the playoffs. While a regular subscription normally costs $35 a month, you can snag this special promo offer for$10 a month, or 35 cents a day. Plus, the live-streaming app service caters towards NBA fans with its Orange package, which offers access to TNT’s NBA studio and ESPN in addition to 30 more channels.
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus is another solid good plan to screen all the important playoff games. At $5.99 a month, the streamer offers every live playoff game airing on ESPN and ABC. You’ll want to keep your subscription for the finals, as well, since the Western Conference finals will be televised exclusively on ESPN, and the NBA finals on ABC.
FuboTV
FuboTV is the most expensive option available at $64.99, but it’s one of the only all-in-one solutions to catching every second of the playoffs. The sports-focused streamer offers ESPN, TNT, NBC, and NBA TV available to stream on any device. This is best for big-time sports fanatics, who might be interested in the additional 100 channels that come with a subscription.
NBA League Pass
This is the way to go if you aren’t be able to catch the live games. Each playoff game will be made available for viewing within a few hours after each game is finished. But the kicker is that, unlike regular DVR provided by other streamers, NBA League Pass allows users to download the games to watch offline.
NBA TV
In addition to offering access to a handful of games in the earlier rounds of playoffs, NBA TV also offers around-the-clock analysis of what’s happening on-screen in real time. While other streamers may offer more live coverage, its $20 price tag pays off for viewers looking to return to the classics: the subscription service offers access to every single NBA Finals matchup from the last 20 years.
Youtube TV
With access to ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT, Youtube TV will have you covered with all the channels you’ll need for live coverage and analysis of the playoff games. And if the price is too steep, now’s the perfect time to go for their free one-month trial.
AT&T TV
With a basic entertainment package from AT&T, you’ll have access to ABC, ESPN, and TNT to catch all the most important games. For $15 more dollars, you’ll get NBA TV for extra analysis of the games and players, in addition to their archive of every single Finals matchup game over the last 20 years.
Hulu Plus
If you aren’t interested in NBA TV, Hulu is a cheaper option for the three main channels you’ll need for the playoffs: ABC, ESPN, and TNT. And for existing Hulu subscribers, the shift to Plus entails a coveted shift to no commercials and increased access to their extensive library.