The NBA Play-In still feels like a wonderful bonus five years since its inception, the ominous first peals of thunder before the lightning appears, as eight teams contend for the final four spots in the playoffs. The Heat have a special relationship with the Play-In, but can they do it without Jimmy Butler? And for that matter, can Jimmy Butler do it without the Heat?
Read on and we'll show you how to watch NBA Play-In live streams without cable and from anywhere with a VPN.
The 2025 NBA Play-In runs from Tuesday, April 15 to Friday, April 18. Full schedule below.
• U.S. — TNT and ESPN via Sling TV
• Australia — Kayo Sports 7-day free trial
• Unblock streams — Try NordVPN 100% risk free
The top six teams in each conference earned spots in the playoffs, while those who finished No.7-No.10 have a second chance at getting in, though it might not feel that way for the Warriors, who fumbled their automatic bid in overtime on the last day of the regular season.
With Steph Curry and Butler, the Warriors' presence in the NBA Play-In field is something of an aberration, though they're hardly a unique case. The Magic have the No.2-rated defense in the NBA, while the Hawks' Dyson Daniels may end up being crowned the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Magic, Warriors, Hawks and Grizzlies, as the respective No.7s and No.8s in each conference, will get two bites of the cherry. The winner of the No.7 vs No.8 game earns the No.7 seed in the playoff, while the loser will face off with the winner of the No.9 vs No.10 game in an eliminator.
Here's everything you need to know to watch NBA Play-In live streams online and without cable.
NBA Play-In schedule 2025
Tuesday, April 15
7:30 p.m. — No.7 Magic vs No.8 Hawks (TNT)
10 p.m. — No.7 Warriors vs No.8 Grizzlies (TNT)
Wednesday, April 16
7:30 p.m. — No.9 Bulls vs No.10 Heat (ESPN)
10 p.m. — No.9 Kings vs No.10 Mavericks (ESPN)
Friday, April 18
TBD — Western Eliminator (TNT)
TBD — Eastern Eliminator (ESPN)
(All times ET)
Watch NBA Play-In live streams in the U.S.
In the U.S., the six NBA Play-In games are split between TNT and ESPN.
If you've already cut the cord and don't have a cable package, you can get both of those TV channels through an OTT cable TV alternative.
Sling TV is the best option. It includes TNT and ESPN in its Orange plan, which costs $45.99/month, but you'll get your first month half-price.
It also carries ESPN3, which is another of the main NBA postseason broadcasters, while you can add NBA TV via the $11 per month Sports Extra add on.
Max is another option. It will live stream all of the games that are shown on TNT, and includes all of HBO's prestige series, like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and new Jake Paul reality series, "Paul American".
Plans start at $9.99/month, though you'll need to pay $16/month to go ad-free, and $20/month to stream in 4K.
Scroll up for a breakdown of which games are on which channels.
How to watch NBA Play-In online from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the basketball on your subscriptions?
You can still watch your usual NBA Play-In live stream thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software makes your devices appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are.
So it's ideal for hoops fans away on vacation or on business. NordVPN is best and our NordVPN review explains why.
How to watch NBA Play-In live streams in the U.K.
TNT Sports holds the rights to NBA basketball in the U.K..
You can get TNT through your TV package, or via the Discovery Plus streaming service. To get TNT you'll need the Premium package, which costs £30.99/month but will also give you Champions League, Europa League and Premier League football, motorsports, tennis, cycling, snooker and more.
If it's only basketball you're interested in, however, every game of the postseason will also be shown on NBA League Pass, which currently starts at £16.99/month or £67.99 for the rest of the season.
If you're not in the U.K. right now but already have a subscription, try using NordVPN to watch as if you were back at home.
How to watch NBA Play-In live streams in Canada
NBA Play-In games are split between TSN and Sportsnet in Canada.
If you don't have cable, you could subscribe to TSN+ instead, which lets you get access to all TSN has to offer on an $8/month or $80/year subscription basis.
The Sportsnet Plus streaming service starts at $19.99/month.
Or you could watch every game on NBA League Pass instead. Plans start at CA$19.99 per month or just CA$39.99 for the rest of the season.
If you're away from home and struggling to tap into your subscriptions, you could use a VPN to help you access an NBA Play-In stream from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN.
How to watch NBA Play-In live streams in Australia
Aussies will find NBA Play-In live streams on ESPN via Foxtel, which is providing comprehensive postseason coverage.
Don't have Foxtel and don't want to subscribe? Specialist streaming service Kayo Sports will also be showing the NBA Play-In tournament, with its affordable, commitment-free plans starting from just $25/month, and hosting plenty of cricket, AFL, rugby, F1 and loads of other live sports besides.
There's also a 7-day FREE trial for anybody who hasn't used the service before.
Another option is NBA League Pass, which costs AU$24.99 per month or AU$99.99 for the rest of the season.
Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on your Kayo account as if you were back home.
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Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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