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Cord Cutter’s Guide to the 2017 NBA Playoffs

For basketball fans, this is one of the best times of the year. March Madness just wrapped up and now the NBA Playoffs are back for another exciting year. The NBA is always an entertaining league to watch, but during the playoffs the intensity ratchets up and it becomes can’t miss television (last year’s finals were intense!).

The 2017 NBA Playoff games will be broadcast across multiple networks, including ABC, TBS, TNT and several ESPN networks. Even if you don’t have cable, you can still watch the NBA Playoffs live during each and every series. Plus, you can do it all legally and without having to spend a fortune on a cable subscription. Check out your best options during the playoffs.

Over-the-Air Antenna

A TV antenna will be the best way to watch any of the games on ABC during the entire postseason. ABC will own a bunch of games, so it’s an important channel to have access to. And, with the antenna you can watch the games for free after your initial purchase of the antenna. It’s a one-time cost that’ll payoff in the long run for sure.

The antenna picks up other channels like CBS, NBC, and FOX. So, it’ll be a huge asset to have to watch other sports like the NHL or even during football season. The other great part is you can always pair an antenna with an over-the-air DVR to record all the games you can’t watch live.

Streaming Services

Sling TV

Sling TV, a streaming service from Dish Network, lets you watch live cable channels with your monthly subscription. The starting price is just $20 per month and there’s no contract required. On Sling TV, you can watch games on TBS, TNT, and multiple ESPN networks. Pair this with an antenna and you’ll be set during the entire NBA Playoffs. Or, you can watch the ABC games on ESPN3, which is part of the starting package.

DIRECTV NOW

AT&T’s streaming service, DIRECTV NOW, will also let you watch the entire NBA Playoffs. Several ESPN networks, TBS, and TNT are available in the $35 per month starting package. Plus, you can get access to WatchESPN with your credentials to watch any of the ABC games. In certain areas, you’ll even get ABC live streaming directly on the service. You can start a 7-day free trial to test out the service now.

PlayStation Vue

PlayStation Vue is Sony’s streaming service and will offer a similar way to watch the playoffs as DIRECTV NOW. The service has a starting price of $29.99 per month and has around 50 channels to live stream. Certain places will get ABC live streaming, but regardless of where you live you can watch the ABC games on WatchESPN. PlayStation Vue has a 5-day free trial available.

TNT Overtime

This is actually an opportunity to watch some more of the NBA Playoffs completely free, not counting the free trials available on the other services or games available over-the-air. TNT broadcasts a solid portion of the postseason and will offer free live streams for some of these games on TNT Overtime. There’s no need to verify a cable subscription and it is completely free to anyone.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the NBA Playoffs. It’s one of the most exciting times in all of sports and you’ll now have no excuse to miss a single game. Hopefully, one of the above options will work great to let you watch during the entire postseason!