How to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs
Judging by the first two games of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the road to this season’s championship is going to be dramatic. The Golden State Warriors are battling to defend their 2022 NBA Championship against the rising Sacramento Kings. The Lakers struggled in the 2022-2023 regular season, but LeBron and Co. defeated the Grizzlies in Game 1 with an impressive 128-112 victory. And the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from a surprising Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks with a 107-90 win in Game 2, a game in which the Cavs… well, couldn’t come back.
Oh, and Golden State superstar bad boy Draymond Green has already been ruled out. We’re not surprised, but we’re tuning in.
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All four California NBA franchises, the Warriors, Kings, Clippers and Lakers, made it to this year’s playoffs. This is the first NBA season since all four to be based in the Golden State. New York’s two NBA franchises, the Nets and Knicks, both clinched playoff berths. New York’s NHL franchises, the Devils, Islanders and Rangers, are also vying for the Stanley Cup – the first time since 1994 that all five New York NBA and NHL teams have punched a ticket to the postseason together.
All this history is making for some seriously expensive in-person tickets. There’s no shame in watching from home, but you have to know when and how to watch.
When and where to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs
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Round 1 is already underway with the best-of-seven series already offering big surprises. Big stars like Paul George of the Clippers, Ja Morant of the Grizzlies and Giannis of the Bucks are battling injuries early in the first round, opening the way for potential upsets in the conference semifinals.
How to watch 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1
The 2023 playoffs, three conference rounds consisting of seven games each, will now be played through May 17. The best-of-seven NBA Finals will begin June 1, ending June 9-18, depending on how many games are played.
All playoff games will be broadcast on either ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. NBA Finals will be broadcast live ABC. Playoff games will be streamed Sling, Fubo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV stream.
Watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling TV
Round 1 NBA Playoff Matchups and Schedule:
Hawks vs. Celtics:
- Game 3: Friday, April 21, Celtics at Hawks, 4 p.m. MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Celtics at Hawks, 4 p.m. MST, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Hawks at Celtics (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Celtics at Hawks (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Hawks at Celtics (time, channel TBA)*
Knicks vs. Cavaliers:
- Game 3: Friday, April 21, Cavaliers at Knicks, 5:30 pm MST, ABC
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Cavaliers at Knicks, 10 a.m. MST, ABC
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks at Cavaliers (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Cavaliers at Knicks (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Knicks at Cavaliers (time, channel TBA)*
Shear vs Flax: ,
- Game 3: Thursday, April 20, Suns at Clippers, 7:30 pm MST, NBA TV/Bally Sports Arizona
- Game 4: Saturday, April 22, Suns at Clippers, 12:30 p.m. MST, TNT/Bally Sports Arizona
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Clippers at Suns (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Suns at Clippers (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Clippers at Suns (time, channel TBA)**if necessary
Lakers vs Grizzlies:
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Lakers at Grizzlies, 4:30 pm MST, TNT
- Game 3: Saturday, April 22, Grizzlies at Lakers, 7 p.m. MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Monday, April 24, Grizzlies at Lakers, (time, channel TBA)
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Lakers at Grizzlies (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Grizzlies at Lakers (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Lakers at Grizzlies (time, channel TBA)*
Heat vs Bucks:
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Heat at Bucks, 6 p.m. MST, NBA TV
- Game 3: Saturday, April 22, Bucks at Heat, 4:30 PM MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Monday, April 24, Bucks at Heat (time, channel TBA)
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Heat at Bucks (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Bucks at Heat (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Heat at Bucks (time, channel TBA)*
Nuggets vs: Timberwolves:
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 19, Timberwolves at Nuggets, 7 p.m. MST, TNT
- Game 3: Friday, April 21, Nuggets at Timberwolves, 6:30 pm MST, ESPN
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Nuggets at Timberwolves, 6:30 pm MST, TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 25, Timberwolves at Nuggets (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, Nuggets at Timberwolves (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Timberwolves at Nuggets (time, channel TBA)*
Nets vs Sixers:
- Game 3: Thursday, April 20, 76, at Nets, 4:30 PM MST, TNT
- Game 4: Saturday, April 22, 76ers at Nets, 10am MST, TNT
- Game 5: Monday, April 24, Nets at 76ers (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Thursday, April 27, 76ers at Nets (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Saturday, April 29, Nets at 76ers (time, channel TBA)*
Warrior vs King:
- Game 3: Thursday, April 20, Kings at Warriors, Chase Center, 7 p.m. MST, TNT
- Game 4: Sunday, April 23, Kings at Warriors, 12:30 p.m. MST, ABC
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Warriors at Kings (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 6: Friday, April 28, Kings at Warriors (time, channel TBA)*
- Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Warriors at Kings (time, channel TBA)*
