How to Watch the NBA Finals Live For Free to Catch the Mavs vs. Celtics (2024)

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The NBA Finals are finally here, and basketball junkies know this is as big as it gets. If you want to find out how to watch the NBA Finals live for free so you don’t miss any of the action on the court, you’ve got some options.

The NBA Finals are the ultimate showdown in basketball, where the Eastern and Western Conference champs duke it out in a best-of-seven series. This year’s NBA Finals will see the top-seeded Boston Celtics going head-to-head with the No. 5 seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics made it to the championship round after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, while the Western Conference Mavericks took down the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the playoffs to secure their spot in the finals. The 2024 NBA Finals will mark the first time these two teams are facing off in the Finals.

On the court, you can expect to see some of the best players in the world going all out. This year will see some dynamic duos facing off: Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving vs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are ones to watch, as any of these ballers could end up snagging the Finals MVP title.

But who’s gonna raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy later this month? To find out, you’re probably going to want to know how to watch the NBA Finals live for free, so you can tune into the games as they air. Keep on reading ahead for your options.

When are the 2024 NBA Finals?

The 2024 NBA Finals begin with Game 1 coverage on Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. See up ahead for the full NBA Finals schedule.

How to watch the NBA Finals live for free

The NBA Finals will be aired nationally on ABC, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starting at $79.99 per month after the trial ends and includes ABC. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends, and also includes ABC.

While Hulu+ With Live TV doesn’t have a free trial, it offers more per month than other options at a similar price. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $75.99 per month and also includes ABC to watch the NBA Finals live for free.

• Best Overall Pick to watch the NBA Finals: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial
• Best Free Trial Pick to watch the NBA Finals: Fubo’s Free Trial
• Best Upgrade Pick to watch the NBA Finals: Hulu+ With Live TV

Best Overall Pick to watch the NBA Finals: Direct TV Stream’s Free Trial

Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the NBA Finals live for free for its free trial, price and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first 2 months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month with the first 2 months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $174.99 per month. ABC is available on all four plans.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the NBA Finals live for free with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ABC and start watching the NBA Finals!

Best Free Trial Pick to watch the NBA Finals: Fubo’s Free Trial

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the NBA Finals live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; Elite, which costs $89.99 per month; and Premier, which costs $99.99 per month. ABC is available on all three plans.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the NBA Finals live for free with Fubo’s free trial.

1. Visit Fubo.TV
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ABC and start watching the NBA Finals!

Best Upgrade Pick to watch the NBA Finals: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the NBA Finals based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $75.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $76.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $81.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $89.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. ABC is included on all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the NBA Finals with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ABC and start watching the NBA Finals!

2024 NBA Finals schedule

Where are the NBA Finals taking place?

The 2024 NBA Finals will alternate venues, taking place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts and the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

How do the NBA Finals work?

The NBA Finals are the last series of games in the NBA season, where the top team from the Eastern Conference faces off against the top team from the Western Conference.

The Finals follow a best-of-seven series format, meaning the first team to win four games takes home the championship. The teams play in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, which means the team with the better regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the other team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. This setup adds some extra spice to the series, with home-court advantage flipping back and forth.

The games are intense, with players leaving everything on the court. You’ll see crazy dunks, clutch shots, and some serious defense. After the final buzzer sounds and the championship-winning team has been decided, it’s time to honor the standout players and contributors. First up is the presentation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, which iis handed over to the winning team. Next comes the prestigious Finals MVP award. This honor is given to the player who made the biggest impact throughout the series.