The tight Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series comes to a thrilling conclusion this weekend. We've scoured the internet to put together everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Finals, including tip-off time and some of the best live streaming services that will allow you to watch. There's even a free option overseas that we can show you how to access.
For the first time since 2016, the NBA Finals have reached Game 7. The No. 4 Indiana Pacers have put up a valiant fight against the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder, but only one team can lift the Larry O'Brien trophy on Sunday night. The Pacers won Games 1, 3, and 6, while OKC dominated in Games 2, 4, and 5. Game 7 will bring the series back to Oklahoma City for a tie-breaking showdown, where both teams will attempt to snag their first-ever Championship title under their current names.
Keep reading to explore some of the best cord-cutting options for the game. If you don't want to read any more: the cheapest US service that will let you live stream the NBA Finals is Sling TV. Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about the app and outlined a few of the other best streaming options.
- Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp to stay up to date on the latest streaming deals, guides, and reviews.
How to watch NBA Finals from anywhere for free
A late contender has emerged with a free live stream of game seven in India on the local NBA YouTube channel. Geo-blocking will restrict access if you're not in the country, but a VPN can help you navigate this.
These virtual private networks are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to change the virtual location of their devices. This way, they don't need to miss out on any games just because they're away from home.
ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs on the market. It's a top-rated, user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the app and its extensive cybersecurity features in our ExpressVPN review.
To get it to work with the Indian live stream, we've found it works with the 'India (via Singapore)' option in the app.
If you already have a subscription to one of the US services mentioned above, a VPN will let you tune in if you're abroad right now, too.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
What channel are the NBA Finals on?
Game 7 of the Thunder vs. Pacers series will air on ABC in the United States. The game is scheduled to tip off on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, but viewers can tune in at 7:30 p.m. for pre-game NBA Countdown coverage. It's important to note that this is a half-hour earlier than the past six games started.
Where to watch NBA Finals in the US
As we mentioned above, the absolute cheapest way for US cord-cutters to live stream the NBA Finals without a free trial is through Sling TV, since ESPN Plus won't be carrying the series. Sling costs $46 per month, but new customers can get 50% off their first month of service. That means you can watch every game of the NBA Finals (even if the series makes it to Game 7) for $23. Sling is a month-to-month cable alternative, which means that you can cancel at any time.
You'll want to sign up for Sling's Orange plan, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and 30 other popular live channels. ESPN3 live streams NBA on ABC games, so you can watch the Finals here. This is how I personally watched the Game 5 Championship win in 2024, and I've double-checked the Sling TV guide this year to confirm that Game 7 will live stream on ESPN3.
You can access 35 live channels with Sling Orange, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Right now, you can get 50% off your first month before subscriptions go back to $46 a month, which you can cancel any time.
While Sling doesn't have a free trial for new customers, other live TV streaming services that offer a free trial have significantly higher monthly fees, but they also come with even more channel options. Two of the best live TV streaming services that we've tried ourselves are DirecTV and Fubo. DirecTV's signature Entertainment plan costs $85 per month, offers access to 90+ channels, and comes with a five-day free trial for new customers. Fubo's Pro plan starts at $85 per month, comes with at least 150 live channels, and offers a seven-day free trial for new users. Plus, new Fubo users can get $20 knocked off their first month of service.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge library of channels includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also tack on additional programming to your plan, but it'll cost you extra.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
