How to Watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs for Free Online

Based on a Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

This guide will show you various official and third-party apps you can use to watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The apps can be installed on all streaming devices, including Firestick, Android TV, Chromecast, Nvidia Shield, and Smart TVs.

The NBA regular season has come to an end, and the NBA Play-In tournament ushered in the ever-exciting playoffs. If you are a basketball fan, you don’t want to miss any of the action as the best teams and players in the league compete for the championship. But how can you watch the NBA playoffs online if you don’t have cable or satellite TV?

Don’t worry. There are plenty of options to stream the games live on your Fire TV stick, Android TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV. This article will show you how to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs online using different services and platforms. Some free, some paid. By the end of the article, you’ll be ready to enjoy every slam dunk, buzzer-beater, and clutch shot of the 2023 NBA playoffs without worrying about huge subscription fees, blackouts, or geo-restrictions.

Who is taking part in the NBA Playoffs?

The NBA Playoffs are the culmination of the NBA season, where the best 16 teams from each conference compete for the championship. The playoffs start with a Play-In Tournament, where the teams ranked seventh to tenth in each conference play for the last two playoff spots. The Play-In Tournament will take place from 11 to 14 April 2023.

Below are the participants of the Play-In tournament:

TUESDAY APRIL 11

• GAME 1: HAWKS VS. HEAT
  The winner earns 7th seed and advances to NBA Playoffs
• GAME 2: LAKERS VS. TIMBERWOLVES
  The winner earns 7th seed and advances to NBA Playoffs

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12

• GAME 3: RAPTORS VS. BULLS
  The winner plays the loser of the East 7/8 game
• GAME 4: PELICANS VS. THUNDER
  The winner plays the loser of the West 7/8 game

FRIDAYAPRIL 14

• GAME 5: EAST LOSER 7/8 VS. EAST WINNER 9/10
  The winner earns 8th seed and advances to NBA playoffs
• GAME 6: WEST LOSER 7/8 VS. WEST WINNER 9/10
  The winner earns 8th seed and advances to NBA playoffs

Below are the NBA 2023 standings after the last game was played on Sunday, April 9.

Eastern Conference

1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Boston Celtics
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. New York Knicks
6. Brooklyn Nets
   Automatic Playoff Qualification Cutoff
7. Miami Heat
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Chicago Bulls

Western Conference

1. Denver Nuggets
2. Memphis Grizzlies
3. Sacramento Kings
4. Phoenix Suns
5. LA Clippers
6. Golden State Warriors
   Automatic Playoff Qualification Cutoff
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
9. New Orleans Pelicans
10. Oklahoma City Thunder

2023 NBA Playoff Schedule

The 2023 NBA playoffs will start on April 15, a day after the play-in tournament determines each conference’s seventh and eighth seeds.

The first round of the playoffs will have eight best-of-seven series, with the winners advancing to the conference semifinals. The conference finals and the NBA Finals will also be best-of-seven series, with the NBA Finals starting on June 1.

Below are all the important dates of the 2023 season.

• April 9: NBA regular season ends
• April 10: Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2023 (3 p.m. ET)
• April 11-14: NBA Play-In Tournament 2023
• April 15: NBA Playoffs 2023 begin
• April 23: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
• May 1-2: NBA Conference Semifinals begin (possible move-up to April 29-30)
• May 16-17: NBA Conference Finals begin (possible move-up to May 14-15)
• June 1: NBA Finals 2023, Game 1
• June 4: NBA Finals 2023, Game 2
• June 7: NBA Finals 2023, Game 3
• June 9: NBA Finals 2023, Game 4
• June 12: NBA Finals 2023 Game 5 (if necessary)
• June 15: NBA Finals 2023, Game 6 (if necessary)
• June 18: NBA Finals 2023. Game 7 (if necessary)

The 2023 playoffs will showcase some of the best players and teams in the league, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, and many more.

How to Watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs

We’ll delve into each of them below.

Method 1: Watch the NBA Playoffs via Official Streaming Apps

Below are the various official apps to stream the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

US (Multiple Apps)

The NBA playoff games will be aired in the US across ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, ABC, and NBA TV. All these are traditional TV stations, which means that most users will use cable to watch the games. However, you don’t have to rely on an expensive cable subscription, as there are multiple streaming apps that provide all these stations at a lower price.

Some of the Streaming services that provide all these channels, are:

• Fubo TV – 7 a free trial. Costs $74.99 a month.
• YouTube TV – 30-day free trial. Costs $72.99 a month.
• Hulu + Live TV – No free trial, but it comes with Disney+ and ESPN+. Costs $70 a month.
• DirecTV Stream – 5-day free trial. Costs $64.99 a month.
• Sling TV – 7-day free trial. Costs $55 a month.

However, it’s important to note that all these streaming services are geo-restricted and only available in the US. If you are outside the region, you’ll need to use a reliable streaming service such as Surfshark to start streaming. The VPN has lots of servers in many US cities.

Now TV (UK)

In the UK, Sky Sports will broadcast all the matches on the Sky Sports main channel and Sky Sports Arena. If you don’t have a Sky Sports cable subscription, you can use Sky’s Now TV streaming service to access the channels. Now TV provides access to all Sky Sports channels and offers a daily and monthly pass for £11.98 and £21, respectively.

It’s noteworthy that Now TV, like most official streaming services, is geo-restricted and only available in the UK and Ireland. If you are outside the region, you can use a reliable VPN like Surfshark to circumvent these restrictions and have smooth streaming.

NBA League Pass

To watch the NBA Playoffs 2023, you can also use the NBA League Pass. This service provides live and on-demand access to all NBA games, including the Playoffs. With the streaming service, you can watch all the games in HD quality and with multiple camera angles, including the “Mosaic” view, which displays multiple games on one screen. You can also pause, rewind, and replay the games and access exclusive content such as player interviews and highlights.

To use NBA League Pass, you can download the app on your device or access it through the NBA website. The service is available in many countries worldwide. However, if you are located in a region where NBA League Pass is not available, or if you want to access games that are subject to blackout restrictions, you can use Surfshark and connect to a server in a different region. NBA League Pass costs just around $12 a month, depending on your country, and you can get an even cheaper deal if you are only interested in one team.

Method 2: Watch the NBA Playoffs via Free Streaming Apks

Similarly, you can use free live TV streaming apps if you want to watch the NBA Playoffs 2023 on Firestick or any other Android-based device. These apps provide access to a wide range of TV channels, including those that broadcast NBA games.

However, there are some important considerations you need to make first.

⚠ Free streaming precautions

One major concern about free streaming is its legality. Many free streaming apps and sites are known to provide access to pirated content, which can result in legal consequences for both providers and viewers. Broadcasters and content distributors have collaborated with ISPs and governments to crack down on these streams by blocking them, sending copyright notices, and taking legal action.

👉 To protect yourself while using free streaming services, it’s important to use a reliable VPN.
A VPN can help hide your online activities and anonymize your connection to make you untraceable. However, choosing a reputable VPN provider that offers good privacy, security, and streaming performance is crucial.

After that, you can check out the apps below.

1. Rapid Streamz

Rapid Streamz is a popular Android app that allows users to stream live TV channels from various countries. The app boasts an extensive selection of channels across different categories, including sports, news, movies, and entertainment. With a simple and intuitive interface, channels are organized by country, language, and genre, making it easy to find what you’re looking for. Additionally, a search function allows you to locate a specific channel quickly.

The home screen of Rapid Streamz has a wide range of sports categories, including popular sports like football, NBA, Baseball, Golf, cricket, boxing, UFC, WWE, and motorsport. The app also features regional channels from countries such as the USA, the UK, India, and Pakistan. To watch the NBA Play-In tournament on Rapid Streamz, you can navigate to the NBA or sports TV section. The former provides direct links to all NBA games, and the latter offers various broadcasting sports channels.

How to Install Rapid Streamz on Firestick & Android TV.

2. Swift Streamz

Swift Streamz is a popular free streaming app that provides access to a vast array of channels from all around the world. In addition to the channels broadcasting the NBA Playoffs, the app also features channels from over 20 countries, making it a great option for viewers who enjoy watching international sports and TV.

The app has a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate, with channels categorized by country and genre. You can also use the search function to quickly find your favorite game or channel. Swift Streamz allows customization via external players and provides the ability to favorite the most-used channels.

How to Install Swift Streamz apk on Firestick & Android TV

Method 3: Watch the NBA Playoffs using Kodi Addons

Kodi is a flexible and all-in-one media center that offers seamless playback of both offline and online content. One of its key features is the ability to customize and enhance its functionality by installing third-party addons, which can provide access to a wide range of channels and events, including sports, such as the highly anticipated NBA Playoffs.

However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the fact that Kodi addons do not own the content they offer, which raises concerns about privacy and security. Protecting your online activities should be a top priority, and using a reputable VPN, like Surfshark, is essential to ensure you remain secure.

Once you’ve safeguarded your online presence, you can use two or three of the recommended addons below to enhance your Kodi experience and enjoy the thrill of watching sports events like the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

1. SportHD

SportHD should be among your first considerations when looking for the best sports Kodi addon to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs. The addon offers access to over 20 different sports categories, including basketball, football, baseball, and more. The content is sourced from the reputable sporthd.me website, which provides a layer of reliability to its performance.

SportHD has four sections: Live Events, Alternative Live Events, Sports, and Best Leagues. To watch the NBA Playoffs 2023, simply navigate to the Sports category and select Basketball. You can also use the addon to watch pretty much any other sport you’d like.

How to Install SportHD Kodi Addon

2. The EndZone

The EndZone is a must-have Kodi addon for fans of American sports. The addon offers access to an extensive range of sports content from the region, including the NBA Playoffs 2023. The home page of The EndZone is divided into several categories, including NBA, WWE, NFL, NCAAF, MMA/Boxing, Wrestling, Nascar, and Formula One. These sections are all centered on live events, and you’ll find links to various matches when they are about to start.

To watch the NBA Playoffs 2023, simply navigate to the NBA category on the home page. This section features all the NBA matches, including the playoffs, and you’ll be able to locate the game you want to watch quickly. Additionally, The EndZone offers multiple links to choose from, ensuring you have the best possible streaming experience.

How to Install The EndZone Kodi Addon

3. Mad Titan Sports

The Mad Titan Kodi addon is a top-notch choice for avid sports fans, and it offers an extensive selection of live sports events. With its Live Sports and Live TV sections prominently displayed on the home page, the addon provides a user-friendly interface for accessing a plethora of sports content.

The Live Sports section of Mad Titan is particularly noteworthy, boasting a diverse range of over 15 sports to choose from. Whether you’re a fan of basketball, MMA, boxing, soccer, or any other popular sport, you’ll find all the live streams there. In addition, Mad Titan Sports also features a Live TV section that utilizes scrappers like USTV, UKTVNow, and US Cable to provide a variety of live TV channels.

How to Install Mad Titan Sports Kodi Addon

Other Kodi addons you can install include:

• LNTV
• The Loop
• Rising Tides
• The Crew

Wrap Up

The NBA Playoffs are undoubtedly the most exciting part of the NBA season, and they feature the best players and teams going all out for the championship. If you’d like to catch the action live, the above apps should sort that out for you. However,

Enjoy!