There’s no shortage of ways to live stream the 2019 NBA Finals. In fact, YouTube TV is the presenting sponsor. And trust me: You won’t want to miss this series between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors.
The big question mark for the series if or when Kevin Durant returns (and to a much lesser extent, DeMarcus Cousins) for the Warriors. He’s already been ruled out for game 1 (Cousins is listed as questionable). The Warriors might have looked invincible against the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers in his absence—returning to the death-by-a-thousand-threes small ball that hinges on Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green—but Durant is the ideal defender for Kawhi Leonard and remains one of the greatest offensive weapons in the world.
For the Raptors, the immediate challenge will be one of complacency. The team managed to climb out of early deficits to the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, but it can’t afford to cede its home-court advantage or settle for finally breaking through to the Finals. There’s no doubt that Leonard will continue to perform at MVP levels, but with mounting pressure, he’ll need everyone—Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Pascal Siakam, Danny Green, and Serge Ibaka, and Fred VanVleet especially—to consistently contribute. And maybe even a few shoulder rubs from Drake.
Here’s everything you need to know to watch the 2019 NBA Finals online and the complete TV schedule.
2019 NBA Finals live stream: How to watch Warriors vs. Raptors for free
The 2019 NBA Finals will broadcast on ABC and simulcast on ESPN3. That means that even if the live TV streaming service you select isn’t able to offer a live feed of ABC—you’ll want to check availability for your area using the links below—so long as your package includes ESPN, you’ll be able to use your subscription credentials with the WatchESPN app to stream the game. Regardless of which package you choose, you’ll start with at least a one-week free trial.
1) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (40% off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, Microsoft Edge, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling TV is one of the most affordable and flexible options for streaming live TV. You can choose between two basic plans, either of which costs $25 per month. Sling Orange offers three ESPN channels, Disney Channel, and Freeform, along with about 20 other channels. Sling Blue offers even more channels, including some local options, FS1, FX, and specialty sports channels like NFL Network. For $40 per month, you can combine the two packages in the aptly named Sling Orange + Blue. Sling TV lets you customize further with more than a dozen add-on packages for sports, comedy, and more. You’ll also be able to rent movies or subscribe to premium channels like Showtime and Starz. Sling TV doesn’t offer ABC, but it’s the only service that provides a standalone channel for ESPN3 (in the Sling Orange and Sling Blue + Orange packages), so you’ll be able to live stream the NBA Finals, no problem. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.)
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $44.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu is already the best way to catch up on your favorite TV shows. The streaming service costs just $5.99 per month (with ads) and allows you to watch all of your favorite current (and classic) sitcoms and adult cartoons on demand, not to mention Hulu originals like The Handmaid’s Tale. But now you can watch live TV too. For $44.99 per month, Hulu with Live TV offers more than 60 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, the CW, HGTV, TNT, and CNN, in addition to all of the local channels you’re used to seeing. (Here’s the complete list of Hulu Live TV channels.) You can also add premium channels like HBO and Showtime. The best part? You’ll get access to the rest of Hulu’s on-demand catalog for free, though you may want to consider upgrading to watch commercial-free.
3) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- PlayStation Vue devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Kodi, and iOS and Android devices
- PlayStation Vue local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
Don’t let the name fool you: PlayStation Vue is a great live TV streaming option, and you don’t have to own a gaming console to use it. PS Vue works with Roku, Amazon Fire, and even Kodi. (It’s also the only live TV service available on PS4.) PlayStation Vue offers four different channel packages, starting at $44.99 per month. No matter which one you choose, you’ll get great channels like ESPN and ESPN2, AMC, BBC America, TBS, Disney Channel, and plenty more. For bilingual families, Telemundo may be available as part of your local channels, and there’s an Español Pack for $4.99 per month that includes NBC Universo, CNN en Español, Fox Deportes, and more. (Here are all of the PlayStation Vue channels.) The great thing about PlayStation Vue is that you can stream on up to five devices at once, making it a great option for families, and you’ll get unlimited cloud DVR.
4) YouTube TV
- Cost: $50 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, and iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV strikes a perfect balance between sports (MLB Network, NBA TV, a whole suite of ESPN channels), news (CNN, MSNBC, BBC World News), and entertainment (AMC, HGTV, TBS). There are a couple of drawbacks: You can’t add HBO or stream using Amazon Fire devices, and aside from Telemundo and NBC Universo, it’s lacking in Spanish channels. But you can create up to six accounts with each subscription, and each of those receives unlimited cloud DVR. That alone makes the service with considering. Considering YouTube TV is sponsoring the NBA Finals, you can expect a stellar experience. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
2019 NBA Finals TV schedule
All times ET. As noted above, the games will also simulcast on ESPN3.
Game 1: Thursday, May 30
9pm, Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors | ABC
Game 2: Sunday, June 2
8pm, Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors | ABC
Game 3: Wednesday, June 5
9pm, Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors | ABC
Game 4: Friday, June 7
9pm, Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors | ABC
*Game 5: Monday, June 10
9pm, Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors | ABC
*Game 6: Thursday, June 13
9pm, Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors | ABC
*Game 7: Sunday, June 16
8pm, Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors | ABC
* If necessary
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