6 ways to stream NBA games on Apple devices

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Find out how to stream every NBA game on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.
Find out how to stream every NBA game on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.
Photo: tommy bebo/Unsplash CC

By Chris Brantner

With the NBA season’s arrival, it’s time to figure out how to watch your favorite teams. Whether you subscribe to cable or you’ve cut the cord, there are plenty of ways to watch pro basketball on your favorite Apple device.

You can opt to watch on Apple TV or you can choose a mobile device. Luckily, most cable apps and other streaming services work pretty much the same way. As long as you know the network the game is on and the time, it’s just a matter of pulling it up and rooting for your favorite team.

Watch NBA games on Apple devices

There are plenty of ways to watch the NBA on your Apple device. This article will deal with six of the most popular ways for you to watch your favorite team throughout the entire season, whether the games air on ABC, a regional sports channel or are broadcast nationwide on TNT or ESPN.

WatchESPN

WatchESPN is handy because you can use it if you’re a cable subscriber or if you subscribe to many streaming services. DirecTV Now, Hulu Live, PlayStation Vue and Sling TV are some of the services that allow you TV Everywhere access with WatchESPN. The app works with Apple devices. After a quick sign-in, you can watch games live on any of the ESPN networks airing them. You can also find any of the games on ABC on ESPN3, as they are simulcast live.

NBA League Pass

NBA League Pass is a way to watch the entire season of the NBA from every team, all in one app. However, there’s one thing to keep in mind: You can’t watch your home team live this way because the games will be blacked out. If you are just worried about watching the majority of the season, or your favorite team is not in your viewing area, this is a great option.

fuboTV

fuboTV is a popular streaming service with sports fans that have cut the cord. If you don’t have cable, fuboTV will give you more than 70 channels including NBA TV and TNT. On the downside, fuboTV doesn’t offer ESPN or ABC, so games on those networks would be out. It does deliver many regional sports channels, though, so it’s possible that you could watch games in your area. fuboTV also now includes an option to add NBA League Pass. This means you’d get the best of everything from both services in one place. fuboTV works with most Apple devices and offers a free weeklong trial.

Hulu Live

Hulu Live includes most of the channels that a cord-cutter would need to watch the NBA on their favorite Apple device. They have one package, and it offers several ESPN networks, TNT and many regional sports channels. Plus, most areas also offer ABC. (If not, you can watch any ABC games through the WatchESPN app on ESPN3.) Like fuboTV, Hulu Live offers a seven-day trial and works on all compatible Apple devices.

DirecTV Now

DirecTV Now is becoming popular due to the sheer number of channels that it offers — you can get between 60 and 125. For NBA fans, that means that, with the exception of a few obscure regional sports channels, you will have all of the channels you need to watch the whole season. DirecTV Now offers ABC/ESPN3, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV in various packages. You’ll also have access to WatchESPN and other TV Everywhere apps. Like the other services mentioned, you’ll begin your subscription with a free one-week trial.

Sling TV

Sling TV wins on cost — it’s the cheapest of all the streaming services mentioned. Packages start at $25 per month and include TNT and ESPN. You can also get packages with NBA TV in them, and all of the ABC games can be watched on ESPN3. One nice thing about Sling TV is that you can watch the ESPN3 games in the Sling TV app, while most other streaming services require you to watch ESPN3 through the WatchESPN app. You’ll get a free week trial before your subscription starts.

Stream NBA games using free trials

These are just a few of the ways to stream the NBA this season on your Apple device. Keep in mind that most of these services offer free trials. Sample them on at a time, and it’s possible to watch quite a few games for free this season before committing to any streaming service. Good luck to your favorite team!

Chris Brantner founded Streaming Observer, a website for cord cutters.

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