Congratulations to Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets for winning the 2023 NBA Finals! Jokić, a two-time NBA MVP, earned Finals MVP honors after averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in a five-game victory over Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. The 2023-24 NBA schedule is expected to be released this summer, with Opening Night slated for mid-October.
Whether you’re looking to find the best way to watch the NBA using NBA League Pass, or test cord-cutting services that include NBA action, you can do it all with the help of a VPN.
On this page, you can find information on how to watch the league you love, plus who looks like a good bet to win the NBA Finals.
| Playoffs start date | April 15, 2023 |
| Play-in tournament start date | April 11-14, 2023 |
| No. of teams: | 16 (Playoffs) 8 (Play-In) |
| Most recent champion(s): | Golden State Warriors; (2022) |
How to stream the NBA with a VPN
You can stream the NBA in just a few simple steps:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location in the U.S.
- Clear browsing data and cookies.
- Open your NBA League Pass or choose your preferred streaming platform to watch the games!
Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
How to stream the NBA with League Pass
If you want to check out the biggest showcase game the NBA has to offer, there isn’t a better option than NBA League Pass. You can enjoy games without blackouts by using the international version of the service and it comes with a strong seven-day free trial.
NBA League Pass
Price: From 3 USD/season
Want to enjoy NBA games with the privacy and security of a VPN? NBA League Pass is your best option.
NBA game blackouts: International League Pass vs. U.S. League Pass
What’s the difference between watching NBA League Pass in Germany, Australia, Canada, or the U.S.? League Pass is available both inside and outside the States. However, there are key differences every fan needs to know.
The U.S. League Pass offers live games and full-game replays for all teams. However, blackouts apply. When a team is playing, that game will be “blacked out” on the U.S. League Pass for the team’s home market. Nationally broadcast games on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV—in other words, most of the playoffs—will also be blacked out. (All blacked-out games are available three days after broadcast. If you purchased the 3-Game Choice package, nationally telecast games will be available for purchase three hours after they have aired. Locally telecast games will be available for purchase three days after they air.)
Want to tune in without having to worry about blackouts? The International League Pass also offers live games for all teams, but without a single blackout!
That’s because blackouts are put in place to protect local broadcasters’ viewership while preserving users’ ability to watch out-of-market games. If you’re streaming from a country outside the United States or Canada, every game is effectively “out-of-market,” meaning that there are no blackouts to worry about. If you only want to watch the games for a single team, select the “Team Choice” option to save some money!
How to cancel NBA League Pass
If you feel like you’re not getting value out of your subscription, cancelling it is not an arduous process. There’s actually a comprehensive guide on how to cancel. You should also be aware that the service auto-renews monthly—if you’re on a monthly subscription—or prior to the season if you’ve purchased an annual subscription. You can opt out of auto-renewals and you will be notified by email prior to getting auto-renewed for a full season.
Stream the NBA using services with free trials
There are a number of cord-cutting services available that should cover your needs. They can be slightly pricey, but most offer free trials so you have ample opportunity to see if they’re worth it for you.
SlingTV
Price: 20 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT
SlingTV includes channels that carry NBA games, such as ESPN, TNT, and ESPN3 (NBA on ABC). To get all of these channels, you’ll need to get Sling Orange as well as Sling Blue (a combined package currently costs 30 USD).
Note: You will need a U.S. credit card or PayPal in order to subscribe.
YouTube TV
Price: 73 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV
YouTube TV offers over 70 local channels, including ABC. A subscription costs 73 USD/month, and doesn’t require a U.S. billing address (though you may need to provide a U.S. ZIP code based on your preferred viewing area). The service includes a variety of sports channels and a 21-day free trial.
DirecTV Stream
Price: 70 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, TNT
DirecTV Stream is on the pricier side but if you prefer a cord-cutting service over an additional streaming app it’s a great option as the “Choice” package (80 USD/month) includes many regional sports networks. DirecTV offers a 5-day free trial.
Hulu+Live TV
Price: 70 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, TNT
Hulu+Live TV carries all the channels broadcasting national NBA games, as well as many regional sports networks. The monthly rate also includes subscriptions to Disney+ and ESPN. Note that Hulu does not offer a free trial, however, and requires both a U.S. ZIP code and credit card billing address.
Fubo
Price: 75 USD/month
Channels: ESPN, ABC, NBA TV
Fubo is a fantastic, if pricey, option for streaming NBA games, but do note that Fubo does not include TNT, which airs both regular season and playoff games. A 7-day free trial is available for those who don’t want to commit to a subscription.
Stream the NBA through BBC iPlayer
Price: Free
The BBC announced a nine-game broadcast deal with the NBA midway through the 2022-23 season. The deal includes four regular season games, two playoff games, one Conference Final game, and one NBA Finals game. Viewers in the UK can stream for free using BBC iPlayer
2023 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
| Game | Date and time | TV |
| No. 8 Atlanta Hawks 116, No. 7 Miami Heat 105 | Tuesday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers 108, No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves 102 (OT) | Tuesday, April 11, 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 10 Chicago Bulls 109, No. 9 Toronto Raptors 105 | Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m. ET / 12 a.m. BST | ESPN |
| No. 10 Oklahoma City Thunder 123, No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans 118 | Wednesday, April 12, 9:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. BST | ESPN |
| No. 8 game in Eastern Conference: Miami Heat 102, Chicago Bulls 91 | Friday, April 14, 7 p.m. ET / 12 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 8 game in Western Conference: Minnesota Timberwolves 120, Oklahoma City Thunder 95 | Friday, April 14, 9:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. BST | ESPN |
2023 NBA postseason schedule
First Round
Eastern Conference
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| No. 8 Miami Heat defeat No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks in five games | Series begins Sunday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. BST | ESPN, NBA TV |
| No. 2 Boston Celtics defeat No. 7 Atlanta Hawks in six games | Series begins Saturday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. BST | ESPN, NBA TV, TNT |
| No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers defeat No. 6 Brooklyn Nets in four games | Series begins Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST | ESPN, TNT |
| No. 5 New York Knicks defeat No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers in five games | Series begins Saturday, April 15, at 6 p.m. ET / 11 p.m. BST | ABC, ESPN, TNT |
Western Conference
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| No. 1 Denver Nuggets defeat No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves in five games | Series begins Sunday, April 16, at 10:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 a.m. BST | TNT, ESPN |
| No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers defeat No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies in six games | Series begins Sunday, April 16, at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST | ABC, ESPN, TNT |
| No. 6 Golden State Warriors defeat No. 3 Sacramento Kings in seven games | Series begins Saturday, April 15, at 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. BST | ABC, TNT |
| No. 4 Phoenix Suns defeat No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers in five games | Series begins Sunday, April 16, at 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. BST | NBA TV, TNT |
Second Round
Eastern Conference
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| No. 8 Miami Heat defeat No. 5 New York Knicks in six games | Series begins Sunday, April 30, at 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST | ABC, ESPN, TNT |
| No. 2 Boston Celtics defeat No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers in seven games | Series begins Monday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. BST | ESPN, TNT |
Western Conference
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| No. 1 Denver Nuggets defeat No. 4 Phoenix Suns in six games | Series begins Saturday, April 29, at 8:30 p.m. ET /1:30 a.m. BST | ESPN, TNT |
| No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers defeat No. 6 Golden State Warriors in six games | Series begins Tuesday, May 2, at 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. BST | ABC, ESPN, TNT |
Eastern Conference Finals
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| No. 8 Miami Heat 123, No. 2 Boston Celtics 116 | Wednesday, May 17, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 8 Miami Heat 111, No. 2 Boston Celtics 105 | Friday, May 19, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 8 Miami Heat 128, No. 2 Boston Celtics 102 | Sunday, May 21, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 2 Boston Celtics 116, No. 8 Miami Heat 99 | Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 2 Boston Celtics 110, No. 8 Miami Heat 97 | Thursday, May 25, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 2 Boston Celtics 104, No. 8 Miami Heat 103 | Saturday, May 27, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
| No. 8 Miami Heat 104, No. 2 Boston Celtics 84 | Monday, May 29, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | TNT |
Western Conference Finals
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| No. 1 Denver Nuggets 132, No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers 126 | Tuesday, May 16, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ESPN |
| No. 1 Denver Nuggets 108, No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers 103 | Thursday, May 18, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ESPN |
| No. 1 Denver Nuggets 119, No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers 108 | Saturday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ABC |
| No. 1 Denver Nuggets 113, No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers 111 | Monday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ESPN |
2023 NBA Finals Schedule
| Matchup | Date and time | Network |
| Denver Nuggets 1o4, Miami Heat 93 | Thursday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ABC, ESPN 2, ESPN+ |
| Miami Heat 111, Denver Nuggets 105 | Sunday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ABC |
| Denver Nuggets 109, Miami Heat 94 | Wednesday, June 7, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ABC |
| Denver Nuggets 108, Miami Heat 95 | Friday, June 9, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ABC |
| Denver Nuggets 94, Miami Heat 89 | Monday, June 12, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. BST | ABC |
2024 NBA Finals odds
Will Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets repeat as champions? Here are the initial 2024 NBA Finals odds according to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
| Team | Odds |
| Denver Nuggets | +460 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +460 |
| Boston Celtics | +500 |
| Phoenix Suns | +700 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +1900 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1900 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +2100 |
| Miami Heat | +2500 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +2700 |
2023 NBA Award Watch
The 2022-23 NBA season featured no shortage of great performances, and here’s who earned awards for their stellar play—or, in one man’s case, coaching.
NBA MVP: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
The NBA MVP finally belongs to 76ers star center Joel Embiid, who averaged a career-high 33.1 points per game and shot a career-best 54.8% from the field. The veteran big man added 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks across 66 games. Embiid, who joined Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson as 76ers to win the MVP, earned 73 of 100 first-place votes. Meanwhile, Lakers star and four-time winner LeBron James failed to earn MVP votes for the first time in his iconic career.
Other candidates: Nikola Jokić, C, Denver Nuggets (15 first-place votes); Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (12 first-place votes)
Midseason pick: Nikola Jokić, C, Denver Nuggets
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic
Barring anything unexpected over the regular season’s final weeks, Banchero has likely clinched Rookie of the Year. The No. 1 overall pick in last summer’s draft has been a potent scorer for the Magic, whose 34 wins marked their most since a 42-victory output during the 2018-19 campaign. Banchero, who earned 98 of 100 first-place votes, joined Shaquille O’Neal (1992-93) and Mike Miller (2000-01) as Magic players to win Rookie of the Year.
Other finalists: Jalen Williams, G, Oklahoma City Thunder; Walker Kessler, C, Utah Jazz (two first-place votes). Note that Williams earned 241 total points over Kessler’s 114 despite the former failing to earn any first-place votes.
Midseason pick: Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, G, Boston Celtics
After primarily being a starter throughout his time with the Bucks and Pacers, Brogdon immediately transitioned into a dangerous sixth man upon joining the Celtics. The 2016-17 Rookie of the Year ended the season shooting a career-high 44.4% from 3-point land and has played a pivotal role in Boston’s latest sensational season. Brogdon earned 60 of 100 first-place votes and became the Celtics’ first Sixth Man of the Year since Hall of Fame center Bill Walton in 1986.
Other finalists: Immanuel Quickley, G, New York Knicks (34 first-place votes); Bobby Portis, F, Milwaukee Bucks (six first-place votes)
Midseason pick: Malcolm Brogdon, G, Boston Celtics
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Memphis Grizzlies
Good luck scoring on Jackson, the fifth-year center who reached his first All-Star Game this season. Both his highlights and statistics went viral during the Grizzlies’ stellar campaign. Jackson ended the regular season averaging 6.8 rebounds and a career-high 3.0 blocks per night. Jackson, who earned 56 first-place votes, became the first Grizzlies player to win Defensive Player of the Year since center Marc Gasol in 2013.
Other finalists: Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks (31 first-place votes); Evan Mobley, F/C, Cleveland Cavaliers (eight first-place votes)
Midseason pick: Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Memphis Grizzlies
Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz
In the end, all Lauri Markkanen needed was a change of scenery. The Finnisher dominated in his first season with the Jazz, earning All-Star honors and averaging career-highs in points (25.6), rebounds 98.6), assists (1.9), and field-goal percentage (49.9%). Not only did the 25-year-old Markkanen emerge as a legitimate building block, but he became the first Jazz member to win Most Improved Player. Markkanen earned 69 of the 100 first-place votes and appeared on every ballot.
Other finalists: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder (24 first-place votes); Jalen Brunson, G, New York Knicks (four first-place votes). Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III all earned one first-place vote.
Midseason pick: Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz
Coach of the Year: Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
The easiest way to win Coach of the Year is to break the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports. Brown, who previously won the award while leading the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2008-09 campaign, earned all 100 first-place votes following the Kings’ stellar 48-34 season.
Other finalists: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics; Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
Midseason pick: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
2023 NBA Draft order
Who did your favorite team select in the 2023 NBA Draft? San Antonio Spurs fans can rest easy knowing their team selected draft consensus No. 1 overall prospect Victor Webanyama after winning the draft lottery in May. Please note there are only 58 picks in this year’s draft (rather than 60) because the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers forfeited second-round selections because of tampering violations.
| Pick | Team | Player selected |
| 1. | San Antonio Spurs | Victor Wembanyama, F/C, Metropolitans 92 (France) |
| 2. | Charlotte Hornets | Brandon Miller, F/G, Alabama |
| 3. | Portland Trail Blazers | Scoot Henderson, G, G League Ignite |
| 4. | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson, G, City Reapers (Overtime Elite) |
| 5. | Detroit Pistons | Ausar Thompson, G/F,City Reapers (Overtime Elite) |
| 6. | Orlando Magic | Anthony Black, G Arkansas |
| 7. | Indiana Pacers (traded to Washington Wizards) | Bilal Coulibaly, F, Metropolitans 92 (France) |
| 8. | Washington Wizards (traded to Indiana Pacers) | Jarace Walker, F, Houston |
| 9. | Utah Jazz | Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF |
| 10. | Dallas Mavericks (traded to Oklahoma City Thunder) | Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky |
| 11. | Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls) | Jett Howard, F, Michigan |
| 12. | Oklahoma City Thunder (traded to Dallas Mavericks) | Dereck Lively II, C, Duke |
| 13. | Toronto Raptors | Gradey Dick, F/G, Kansas |
| 14. | New Orleans Pelicans | Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn |
| 15. | Atlanta Hawks | Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan |
| 16. | Utah Jazz (via Minnesota Timberwolves) | Keyonte George, G, Baylor |
| 17. | Los Angeles Lakers | Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana |
| 18. | Miami Heat | Jaime Jaquez Jr., F, UCLA |
| 19. | Golden State Warriors | Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara |
| 20. | Houston Rockets (via Los Angeles Clippers) | Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova |
| 21. | Brooklyn Nets (via Phoenix Suns) | Noah Clowney, F, Alabama |
| 22. | Brooklyn Nets | Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke |
| 23. | Portland Trail Blazers (via New York Knicks) | Kris Murray, F, Iowa |
| 24. | Sacramento Kings | Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette |
| 25. | Memphis Grizzlies (traded to Detroit Pistons) | Marcus Sasser, G, Houston |
| 26. | Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers) | Ben Sheppard, G, Belmont |
| 27. | Charlotte Hornets (via Denver Nuggets) | Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas |
| 28. | Utah Jazz (via Philadelphia 76ers) | Brice Sensabaugh, F, Ohio State |
| 29. | Indiana Pacers (via Boston Celtics; traded to Denver Nuggets) | Julian Strawther, F, Gonzaga |
| 30. | Los Angeles Clippers (via Milwaukee Bucks) | Kobe Brown, F, Missouri |
| 31. | Detroit Pistons | James Nnaji, C, FC Barcelona (Spain) |
| 32. | Indiana Pacers (via Houston Rockets; traded to Denver Nuggets) | Jalen Pickett, G, Penn State |
| 33. | San Antonio Spurs (traded to Minnesota Timberwolves) | Leonard Miller, F, G League Ignite |
| 34. | Charlotte Hornets (via Philadelphia 76ers) | Colby Jones, G, Xavier |
| 35. | Boston Celtics (via Portland Trail Blazers) | Julian Phillips, F, Tennessee |
| 36. | Orlando Magic (traded to Milwaukee Bucks) | Andre Jackson Jr., G, UConn |
| 37. | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Washington Wizards; traded to Denver Nuggets) | Hunter Tyson, F, Clemson |
| 38. | Sacramento Kings (via Indiana Pacers) | Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas |
| 39. | Charlotte Hornets (via Utah Jazz) | Mouhamed Gueye, F, Washington State |
| 40. | Denver Nuggets (via Dallas Mavericks) | Maxwell Lewis, F, Pepperdine |
| 41. | Charlotte Hornets (via Oklahoma City Thunder; traded to Los Angeles Lakers) | Amari Bailey, G, UCLA |
| 42. | Washington Wizards (via Chicago Bulls) | Tristan Vukčević, F/C, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) |
| 43. | Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks) | Rayan Rupert, G, New Zealand Breakers (Australia) |
| 44. | San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors) | Sidy Cissoko, F/G, G League Ignite |
| 45. | Memphis Grizzlies (via Minnesota Timberwolves) | G. G. Jackson, F, South Carolina |
| 46. | Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans) | Seth Lundy, G, Penn State |
| 47. | Los Angeles Lakers (traded to Indiana Pacers) | Mojave King, G, G League Ignite |
| 48. | Los Angeles Clippers | Jordan Miller, F, Miami |
| 49. | Cleveland Cavaliers (via Golden State Warriors) | Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan |
| 50. | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat) | Keyontae Johnson, F, Kansas State |
| 51. | Brooklyn Nets | Jalen Wilson, F, Kansas |
| 52. | Phoenix Suns | Toumani Camara, F, Dayton |
| 53. | Minnesota Timberwolves (via New York Knicks) | Jaylen Clark, G, UCLA |
| 54. | Sacramento Kings | Jalen Slawson, F, Furman |
| 55. | Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers) | Isaiah Wong, G, Miami |
| 56. | Memphis Grizzlies | Tarik Biberović, F, Fenerbahçe (Turkey) |
| 57. | Chicago Bulls (via Denver Nuggets) | N/A (pick forfeited due to tampering violation) |
| 58. | Philadelphia 76ers | N/A (pick forfeited due to tampering violation) |
| 59. | Washington Wizards (via Boston Celtics) | Trayce Jackson-Davis, F, Indiana |
| 60. | Milwaukee Bucks | Chris Livingston, F, Kentucky |
Other professional basketball leagues
Basketball fans had no shortage of alternative leagues to watch this summer. Here’s our guide on how to get your basketball fix throughout the NBA offseason:
NBA Summer League
What to know: All 30 teams will field rosters primarily consisting of rookies, young players, and veterans trying to earn a regular-season spot during an 11-day, 75-game competition this summer. The official NBA 2K23 Summer League will mostly take place in Las Vegas, with some July games also happening in San Francisco and Salt Lake City.
Our favorite way to watch with a VPN: All 75 Summer League games will air live on ESPN Networks or NBA TV. The international version of NBA League Pass is expected to carry every game this summer.
The Basketball Tournament (TBT)
What to know: Although the NBA Summer League is primarily focused around younger players, The Basketball Tournament provides a flashback to stars of old. Former college basketball and NBA standouts will represent their alma maters in a 64-team tournament in Dayton, Ohio. The winning team will earn a 1 million USD cash prize.
Notable names expected to participate in the 2022 TBT include former BYU guard and National Player of the Year Jimmer Fredette (The Money Team), ex-Syracuse standout Tyler Ennis (Boeheim’s Army), and longtime NBA veteran C.J. Miles (Sideline Cancer). Amen and Ausar Thompson, two projected 2023 lottery picks, are expected to play for Team Overtime.
Our favorite way to watch with a VPN: Games will air on ESPN starting with the tip-off on July 16 and culminating with the championship game on Monday, July 25. SlingTV offers ESPN at an affordable rate.
BIG3
What to know: Ice Cube’s popular 3-on-3 pro basketball league is back for another year. Former Brooklyn Nets shooting guard and seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson dropped 30 points in the 2022 opener and still looks sharp despite turning 41 this summer. Other notable names include former Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, high-flying dunker Gerald Green, and ex-Orlando Magic big man Rashard Lewis. Teams will play an eight-week regular season, a two-week postseason, and end the year with an All-Star Weekend trip to the Bahamas from September 3-4.
Our favorite way to watch with a VPN: Although BIG3 will stream some games on its official YouTube channel, other games will air on CBS, Paramount+, and DAZN. Make sure to check the league’s comprehensive schedule.
Key dates for the 2022-2023 NBA season
| Event | TV Network | Dates |
| Opening Night | TNT | October 18, 2022 |
| NBA Global Games (Mexico City) | NBA TV | December 17, 2022 |
| Christmas Day | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ | December 25, 2022 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | TNT, NBA TV | January 16, 2023 |
| NBA Global Games (Paris) | NBA TV | January 19, 2023 |
| NBA Rivals Week | TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV | January 24-28, 2023 |
| NBA All-Star 2023 | TNT | February 17-19, 2023 |
| NBA Playoffs | TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV | April 15-June 2023 |
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FAQ: About the 2023 NBA Playoffs
How is home court advantage decided in the NBA Finals?
Home court in the NBA Finals goes to the team with the better regular season record. Playoff seeding within a conference is not factored in, so if the top seed in the Eastern Conference has 48 wins and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference has 51 wins, the Western Conference team would have home-court advantage.
How many games do you have to win in the NBA Playoffs to go to the next round?
All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven series, meaning a team must win four games to survive and advance.
Are the NBA Playoffs held every year?
Yes, the NBA holds an annual postseason. The league was so determined to crown a champion in 2020 that it moved the season to Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic and played its postseason in a ”bubble” environment.
How long is the NBA season?
The NBA season is 82 games and typically begins in mid-October before concluding in mid-April. The All-Star Game usually occurs in February.
Who is favored to win the 2023 NBA Finals?
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, the Denver Nuggets were -460 favorites to defeat the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals.
How do the NBA Finals work this year?
The NBA Finals operates on the 2-2-1-1-1 system, meaning the team with home-court advantage—in this case, the Denver Nuggets—will host the first two games, including a potential Game 5 and Game 7. The Miami Heat are guaranteed to host Games 3 and 4, and would also play at home in a potential Game 6.
Who has won the most NBA Finals?
As of 2023, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have each won 17 NBA championships; the Celtics last won it all in 2008, while the Lakers earned the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in 2020. Former Celtics center Bill Russell holds the record for most NBA championships, winning 11 during his 13-year playing career.
What NBA teams have never won a championship?
As of April 2023, 11 teams, including the Denver Nuggets, have never won the NBA Finals. The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz make up the other 10.
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I connected to the suggested VPN server location but I can’t log in to the streaming service!
No worries! Server load changes rapidly (especially when lots of people are trying to watch certain events), but that’s exactly why ExpressVPN has high-speed servers all over the world. If you’re trying to access a site in the U.S. or Germany, for instance, try connecting to a different server location in those countries.
If you’re trying to connect to a country with one server location, the first step is to check your location settings. If you’re on a mobile device, disconnect from the VPN, turn off location services, then connect to the VPN again. On both Windows and Mac computers, you can turn off Location Services within the Privacy & Security settings menu.
For more help, you can always talk to a member of our Support Team, available 24/7 by live chat.
What other streaming services can I watch with ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN works seamlessly with all the most popular streaming apps from around the world. Using a VPN for streaming ensures you watch securely in blazing-fast HD with unlimited bandwidth, free from ISP throttling (which can sometimes slow down speeds). If you want to watch your favorite team from anywhere—even while traveling or on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi—ExpressVPN is a great way to enhance your sports streaming experience.
