- The 2023-24 NBA regular season is drawing to a close which means the top teams in both conferences are gearing up for the NBA Playoffs. But before that, we have the NBA Play-In Tournament from April 16 to April 19!
- The teams placed seventh to tenth in the East and the West will compete for the final two playoff spots.
The NBA Play-In Tournament is all but certain to feature top players like Steph Curry, Lebron James, Jimmy Butler, and reigning MVP Joel Embiid. If you’re only looking for a way to watch the NBA Play-In tournament online, we recommend using DirecTV stream for its five-day free trial.
Not in the US? You’ll need to get your hands on a VPN like Surfshark to change your IP address. Just follow these steps:
Check out our guide below for more instructions to watch the NBA Play-in Tournament and the first round of the NBA Playoffs online. Our complete guide on how to watch NBA Games online has all the international streaming information you need.
The 2023/24 NBA regular season is coming to an end, which means the top 16 teams in the league are gearing up for the NBA Playoffs. But first, the teams placed seventh to tenth in both conferences will compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament from April 16-19 to secure their place in the playoffs.
While there’s still time for teams to move in and out of the Play-In spots, it looks like Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), and Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) will lead their teams into battle in the Play-In tournament.
Looking for a way to watch the NBA Play-In tournament online? Try out DirecTV Stream and its five-day free trial. It’s also a solid option if you want to stream the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
If you’re outside the country, you’ll need to use a VPN like Surfshark to unblock US-based live TV streaming services. Surfshark is the perfect choice thanks to its excellent performance and low price point!
Surfshark even has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try out the service risk-free before you commit. We’ll show you how to use a VPN to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament online in the guide below:
Where to Watch NBA Playoffs and NBA Play-In Tournament Online
The NBA Play-In Tournament games will be split across ESPN and TNT in the US. To watch all six Play-In games online, you’ll need to use a Live TV streaming platform like DirecTV stream which offers those channels.
While there are a couple of solid options out there, we recommend DirecTV Stream thanks to its five-day free trial, which will run for the duration of the Play-In tournament.
Now, sites like DirecTV streams have geo-restrictions that prevent users from accessing the site from outside the US. The good news is, there’s an easy workaround to this problem thanks to Surfshark VPN.
Surfshark has over 600 VPN servers in the United States that you can connect to and change your IP address. This makes it seem like you’re using the internet from within the country, and unblocks sites like DirecTV Stream, Hulu+, Sling TV, and others!
We’ve put together a simple guide below to help you watch the NBA Play-In tournament on DirecTV Stream:
- Subscribe to Surfshark. With 600+ servers peppered across 25 U.S. cities, you’re always going to find a high-speed, private connection. Surfshark does everything right and comes in at an almost impossible-to-beat price point! Even so, you can cancel the service within the first 30 days to get your money back!
- Download and install the VPN application to your preferred streaming device.
- Launch the app and log in to your account.
- Connect to a server in the USA. Wait a few seconds once the server’s been connected.
- Go to DirecTV Stream and start a free trial.
- Head to either ESPN or TNT to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament game of your choice!
More Ways to Watch NBA Playoffs 2024 Online
There are few things we love more than the NBA, and one of them is a great bargain. DirecTV stream is one of the best options to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament online because of its free trial. However, if you’re looking to catch the start of the Playoffs as well, the site becomes a little less enticing.
For us, Sling TV is the clear-cut choice for a deep NBA playoff viewing experience. You’ll get half-off your first month, which will let you watch the Play-In Tournament and the start of the NBA Playoffs (Rounds 1 and 2) for just $20. After your first month, the service will cost $40, which is still a lot cheaper than the competition.
We’ve put together a list of alternative streaming options for you to choose from in the table below:
| Streaming Service | Price Per Month | Free Trial? |
|---|---|---|
| Sling TV (Recommended) | $40 -$55 | No, but rotating sign-up promotions |
| YouTube TV | $72.99 and up | 14-day free trial |
| Fubo | $79.99 and up | Seven-day free trial |
| DirecTV Stream | $94.98 and up | Five-day free trial |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 and up | No |
NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule
The NBA Play-In Tournament will take place between April 16-19. The exact dates and matchups will be decided at the end of the NBA regular season based on where the teams finish.
How does the NBA Play-In tournament work, you ask? Just refer to the table below:
| Date | Matchup | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | East 7th Place vs. East 8th Place | Winner gets the 7th Seed in the Eastern Conference. Loser qualifies for Play-In final stage. |
| TBD | West 7th Place vs. West 8th Place | Winner gets the 7th Seed in the Western Conference. Loser qualifies for Play-In final stage. |
| TBD | East 9th Place vs. East 10th Place | Winner qualifies for Play-In final stage. Loser eliminated. |
| TBD | West 9th Place vs. West 10th Place | Winner qualifies for Play-In final stage. Loser eliminated. |
| TBD | Play-In Final Stage (East) | Winner gets 8th Seed in the Eastern Conference. Loser Eliminated. |
| TBD | Play-In Final Stage (West) | Winner gets 8th Seed in the Western Conference. Loser Eliminated. |
When do the NBA Playoffs Start?
The NBA Playoffs 2024 will start on Saturday, April 20. Currently, the Boston Celtics are a lock for the 1-seed in the East, while the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Thunder are still fighting for the top spot in the West.
The top two seeds in both conferences will face the two teams that qualify during the Play-In tournament. If you want more information on streaming NBA games, including ways to watch blacked-out games and access your NBA League Pass while traveling, check out our complete guide on how to watch NBA games online.
