How to watch NBA for free. Watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Here's how to watch 2025-26 NBA games online without cable, including ways to livestream basketball for free this season.

For the first time since 2002, NBA basketball will air on NBC. If you were a ’90s kid, John Tesh’s iconic “Roundball Rock ” was the soundtrack of your basketball-watching experience, the perfect melodic intro that remains synonymous with hoops.

The Cavs home opener will broadcast live on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio at 6 p.m. Eastern. Fans who have parted ways with their local cable provider can catch this game for free by utilizing a free trial from DIRECTV, which also offers $40 off your first month.

With the 2025-26 NBA season in full swing, the league is already seeing a lot of buzz and excitement for what’s to come throughout the schedule. The first big event is the NBA Cup, a six-week in-season knockout tournament where each team has a chance to win it all.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NBA season including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.