NBA Playoffs live stream 2022: how to watch every game online from anywhere – Conference Finals

(Image credit: Getty Images / Kevin C. Cox)

We've reached the sharp end of the 2022 NBA Playoffs and arrived at the nail-biting Conference Finals. It's Mavericks vs Warriors over in the Western Conference and Heat vs Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Both series are the best of seven games and run from May 18 and May 17 respectively. Can Dallas, the surprise package, go all the way, or will one of the big hitters from the east take the grand prize? Read on as we explain how to watch a 2022 NBA Playoffs live stream from anywhere.

Watch NBA Playoffs live stream 2022

Dates: Saturday, April 16 - Sunday, June 19

US TV coverage: stream ESPN, TNT, ABC/ESPN 3, ESPNews and NBA TV live with Sling TV discount

FREE live stream: Kayo Sports FREE trial (AU)

Global live streams: SN Now / TSN (CA) | Sky Sports (UK)

Watch anywhere: Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free

Back after two years in the wilderness, Steph Curry and the Warriors are in the playoffs and fighting for a place in the final. So far, they've breezed past both the Grizzlies and the Nuggets but the Mavericks will be a sterner test.

No one would have put money on Dallas getting this far. They did well to take out Utah in the First Round in what looked, on paper, a fairly even encounter, and did what many thought could not be done by taking out the hotly-tipped Suns in the semis. Momentum is a wonderful thing. Will that be enough to make the final?

On the other side of the draw, it is, instead, very much as expected – first seed plays second seed. While the Heat have the early home court advantage, has their passage through the playoffs been too easy so far? While Miami brushed aside the 76ers and the Hawks, the Celtics fought hard to best Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the semis. Are they now revved up and ready for the Heat too. This is no time for slow starts.

It's going to be epic, so read on for details on how to get a 2022 NBA Playoffs live stream no matter where you are in the world.

Watch more basketball with our NBA live stream guide

NBA playoffs live stream: watch every game in the US without cable

Coverage of the 2022 NBA Playoffs is split between ESPN, TNT, ABC/ESPN 3, ESPNews and NBA TV.

But covering your bases isn't as tricky as it might seem, even if you don't want the commitment or expense of cable.

Watch all the NBA Playoffs without cable on Sling TV

Sling TV is a complete cable replacement service that includes the NBA channels in its Sling Orange package.

It normally costs $35 per month but there's currently a half-price deal on your first month of Sling TV, and nets you both ESPN and TBS, with ABC coverage available via simulcasts on ESPN3, which is also included on the plan. Add ESPNews $11 per month extra and you'll have all of the remaining NBA Playoffs too.

A costlier alternative is to get a FuboTV plan, which includes ESPN, ESPNews and ABC, as well as more than 100 other top channels. The only casualty is TNT. Its standard plan costs $64.99 per month after a 7-day FREE trial.

Away from home and outside the States at the moment? No bother. You can watch all of the NBA Play-In coverage on Sling by signing up to a VPN.

How to watch the NBA Playoffs from outside your country

Scroll down for all the ways you can watch NBA basketball online in a number of countries around the world. But first, you should know that if you're abroad at any point during the playoffs, you probably won't be able to watch the hoops like you normally would at home.

This is because of geo-blocking, a digital restriction that means certain streaming services are only accessible in the region they're based in.

When this is the case, the simplest and most reliable solution is to use a VPN service to change your IP address to a difference location. This will generally let you tune in to your local coverage, just as you would from home, and means you don't have to trawl the sketchier corners of the internet for an illegal stream.

Use a VPN to watch NBA Playoffs online from anywhere

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How to watch NBA Playoffs: live stream basketball in the UK

Basketball fans based in the UK can tune into the 2022 NBA Playoffs on Sky Sports, but bear in mind that a lot of the action takes place very late at night.

Subscribers also get to watch on the move using the Sky Go app, which is available on nearly all modern phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles.

If you don't have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, Now TV will let you stream everything it has to offer without locking you into a lengthy contract.

Alternatively, die-hard fans might want to check out the NBA League Pass, which starts at £14.99 per month after a 7-day free trial, and will get you every single game.

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How to watch NBA Playoffs: live stream in Canada

In Canada, the NBA Playoffs are split between Sportsnet and TSN.

If you don't have Sportsnet on cable, you can subscribe to standalone streaming service SN Now instead, with prices starting at $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

If you don't have TSN on cable, you can subscribe to it on a streaming-only basis from $7.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month.

If you decide to subscribe or already have, remember you can take your favorite sports streaming service with you wherever you go - just try our No. 1 overall rated VPN 100% risk-free for 30-days and follow the instructions above.

How to watch 2022 NBA Playoffs: live stream for FREE in Australia

ESPN, available through Foxtel, has got basketball fans in Australia covered for the NBA Playoffs, which you can also stream on your laptop or mobile using the Foxtel Go app.

They're also being shown on the excellent sports streaming service Kayo Sports, which is the ideal option for anyone who doesn't want to commit to a lengthy and pricey contract.

Kayo lets you stream on two devices with its $25 per month Basic plan, and on three devices with its $35 Premium plan, and both come with a FREE 14-day trial.

Alternatively there's the NBA League Pass, which starts at $39.99 per month after a 7-day FREE trial.

Don't forget, you can take your NBA coverage abroad with you as well. For those wanting to watch home coverage of sports from overseas, a good VPN is the solution.

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.