The 2025 NBA Playoffs continue with the Conference Semifinals
The 2025 NBA Playoffs continue with the Conference Semifinals
The Conference Semifinals will feature some fantastic matchups on the court, and we’ll show you how to stream each game.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are off to a hot start. The LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers have already been eliminated, but the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are still in the tournament, as are other top NBA teams like the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and others. The Conference Semis kick off on Sunday, May 4 on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. As is true of all sporting events on Warner Bros. Discovery-owned cable channels, all of the games airing on TNT will also be available on Max. However, our recommendation for the best service to watch all of the NBA Playoffs up through the finals is with a subscription to Sling TV.
How to watch 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals
- When: Starting Sunday, May 4
- TV: ABC, ESPN, TNT
- Stream: Watch with a subscription to Sling TV and get 50% off your first month.
- From anywhere: Watch with a (https://thestreamable.com/how-to-watch-2025-nba-conference-semifinals#how-to-watch-2025-nba-conference-semifinals-from-anywhere text: subscription to a VPN).
Everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals
What is the schedule of the 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals?
*=if necessary
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Indiana Pacers
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchup | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, May 4 | 6 p.m. | No. 1 | Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | TNT |
| Tuesday, May 6 | 7 p.m. | No. 2 | Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | TNT |
| Friday, May 9 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 3 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers | ESPN |
| Sunday, May 11 | TBD | No. 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers | TNT |
| Tuesday, May 13 | TBD | No. 5 | Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* | TNT |
| Thursday, May 15 | TBD | No. 6 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers* | TBD |
| Sunday, May 18 | TBD | No. 7 | Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* | TBD |
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchup | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 5 | 7 p.m. | No. 1 | New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics | TNT |
| Wednesday, May 7 | 7 p.m. | No. 2 | New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics | TNT |
| Saturday, May 10 | TBD | No. 3 | Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks | ABC |
| Monday, May 12 | TBD | No. 4 | Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks | ESPN |
| Wednesday, May 14 | TBD | No. 5 | New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics* | TNT |
| Friday, May 16 | TBD | No. 6 | Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks* | ESPN |
| Monday, May 19 | TBD | No. 7 | New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics* | TNT |
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Denver Nuggets
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchup | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 5 | 9:30 p.m. | No. 1 | Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | TNT |
| Wednesday, May 7 | 9:30 p.m. | No. 2 | Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | TNT |
| Friday, May 9 | 10 p.m. | No. 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets | ESPN |
| Sunday, May 11 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 4 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets | ABC |
| Tuesday, May 13 | TBD | No. 5 | Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder* | TNT |
| Thursday, May 15 | TBD | No. 6 | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets* | ESPN |
| Sunday, May 18 | TBD | No. 7 | Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder* | TBD |
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchup | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 6 | 9:30 p.m. | No. 1 | Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | TNT |
| Thursday, May 8 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 2 | Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | TNT |
| Saturday, May 10 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 3 | Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| Monday, May 12 | 10 p.m. | No. 4 | Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors | ESPN |
| Wedensday, May 14 | TBD | No. 5 | Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves* | TNT |
| Sunday, May 18 | TBD | No. 6 | Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors* | TBD |
| Tuesday, May 20 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 7 | Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves* | ESPN |
Why do we recommend watching 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals on Sling TV?
The 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals are going to be played out on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. That means you’re best and cheapest option to watch every game is with a subscription to Sling TV, which offers these channels in its base packages. The best way to go is with a Sling Orange subscription, which starts at $46 per month, but is currently reduced to $23 for new customers’ first month of service.
ESPN and TNT are both standard channels included in the Sling Orange package, and the plan also comes with ESPN3, which simulcasts live sporting events appearing on ABC. You can also watch ABC in Sling’s Blue plan in the following markets in the United States.
| ABC market | Channel call sign |
|---|---|
| Chicago | WLS |
| Fresno | KFSN |
| Houston | KTRK |
| Los Angeles | KABC |
| New York | WABC |
| Philadelphia | WPVI |
| Raleigh-Durham | WTVD |
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KGO |
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord-cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.
Can you watch 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals for free?
Each series has the potential to stretch over a period of two weeks or so, meaning there’s no service that will let you watch all of the games in this round at no cost. However, there are several that will let you stream at least a game or two with a free trial.
The DIRECTV MySports Genre Pack is up first; it comes with a five-day free trial and includes ABC, ESPN, and TNT. It starts at $70 per month once the trial ends. Hulu + Live TV comes with a standard three-day free trial, and plans begin at $83 per month once the trial is over — if you want to watch the Disney Bundle free as part of your subscription.
YouTube TV comes with a trial that lasts between two and 14 days, depending on what time of month you subscribe and other factors. After the trial, its base package starts at $83 per month.
What are all the services you can use to watch 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals
The four live TV streamers listed above — DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV — are the four you can use to watch every game of the semis on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Of these, Sling TV is our favorite, as discussed.
Fubo does not carry TNT in any market, but you can use it to watch all games appearing on ABC or ESPN. Max offers all games appearing on TNT in the Bleacher Report Sports add-on, which comes free with a subscription to any ad-free Max plan. Combine it with Fubo if you want another option that includes all games!
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ABC | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ESPN | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| TNT | + $24 | - | + $61 | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
About 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals
In the Eastern Conference, only the top four seeds that entered the playoffs are still left standing. The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are old rivals, and the Pacers and Cavs are intimately familiar with each other as well. Stars like Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, and others will vie for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals this round.
The roster of superstars in the West is no less impressive, with Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and many more suiting up. The Nuggets and Thunder have two leading MVP candidates squaring off this round, and while the Warriors and Wolves weren’t necessarily predicted to advance in the first place, they’ve proven once again that the beauty of the NBA playoffs resides in the unexpected.
How to watch 2025 NBA Conference Semifinals from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the NBA Playoffs as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home, even when you’re not, ensuring you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Remember that you will still need to be subscribed to a service that carries ESPN networks to stream the action with a VPN.
SurfShark is one of the best providers around at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get SurfShark’s protection for as little as $2.19 per month. All plans include a secure VPN, ad blocker, and cookie pop-up blocker, so you will be covered from every angle. And since SurfShark’s protection is available on unlimited devices, you won’t have to pick and choose which ones to prioritize. Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
While SurfShark is our recommendation for the best value VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Best Budget Option: NordVPN | Starting at $3.39 per month
- Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available