The NBA Playoffs are the culmination of months of action from the best basketball league in the world, with the top teams from each Conference advancing through to the Finals in search of the ultimate glory.
As we head into the most important stretch, NBA fans want to know what time each playoff game starts, which NBA games will be broadcast on Australian TV, and how to stream the Finals live. Use this guide to to find answers to all of those questions and more.
2019 NBA Finals TV Preview
After 82 gruelling regular season games and four weeks of thrilling Playoff action, just four teams remain in the NBA Conference finals. The Golden State Warriors, comfortable favourites to win the title all season, advanced through to their fifth consecutive Conference Finals, though the series win against Houston wasn’t without it’s injury concerns – most notably to Kevin Durant, who injured his calf in Game 5. He is expected to return to take on the Portland Trail Blazers, who advanced on the back of a tough on-the-road win against Denver in Game 7 of the Conference Semis.
In the east, it’s the top two teams from the regular season who will face off for a spot against the winner of Portland and Golden State. The Bucks continued their superb season with a dominant 4-1 series win over the Celtics, bouncing back from a heavy Game 1 loss to take out the series with ease and earn themselves a couple of extra days rest. Their opponent, the Raptors, were made to work a little harder. They beat the 76ers in seven games, with an extraordinary Kawhi Leonard jump shot on the buzzer which hung on the rim for what seemed like an eternity giving them a two point win in Game 7 of that series and seeing them advance through to the Conference Finals. Best of all, you can catch every minute of the action when mobile streaming the NBA Championship whether you’re at home or out and about.
How to Stream the NBA Finals Live
Kayo Sports is the place to watch all of the action from the NBA Playoffs, with a majority of the games – including every game of the 2019 NBA Finals – to be broadcast on the streaming platform. Each of these games will be available both live and on-demand, meaning if you aren’t able to tune into the action as it happens, you can simply catch up on it at a time that suits you. Plus, Kayo is available using a range of NBA streaming options, to include PC and Mac, iOS and Android iPhones and tablets, as well as Smart TVs, Google Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra and more.
| Device List | NBA Streaming Guide |
|---|---|
| PC/Mac | Yes, web browser only (Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge) |
| iOS/Android Phones/Tablets | Yes, via native apps (iOS 11 and Android 6 minimum). |
| Google Chromecast | Yes, Google Chromecast Ultra or 3rd Generation required for 1080p HD, otherwise 720p. |
| Telstra TV | Yes, Split View not available; TTV1 limited to 720p. |
| Android TV | Yes, via app for version 7.0 and up. |
| PS4 and Xbox One | App in development – coming soon |
There’s also a variety of unique Kayo features which make it an even better way to watch the NBA Playoff action. The No Spoilers feature means you can make use of the on-demand function without having the scores ruined for you, while similarly, Key Moments lets you skip through to the most important parts of the big game when watching on-demand. The SplitView feature, which allows you to watch up to four different things simultaneously on one screen, means that you can also keep one eye on any other big sporting events that might be happening at the same time.
NBA Playoffs Live TV Fixtures (Sydney time)
| Date | Event | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 6 June | LIVE (Game 3): Warriors v Raptors | 11.00am | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Saturday 8 June | LIVE (Game 4): Warriors v Raptors | 11.00am | Foxtel / Kayo |
| Tuesday 11 June | LIVE (Game 5): Raptors v Warriors | 11.00am | Foxtel / Kayo |
Shown as Sydney time, adjust for regional differences. NBA Playoff replays are available using Kayo on-demand the day following the live action.
Stream the NBA Live and Free
The NBA Playoffs won’t be available on Free to Air TV in Australia, but Kayo Sports will have live coverage of every game of the Conference Finals as well as every game of the Championship Finals.
So if you’re a resident of Australia you may wish to check out the Kayo Sports 14 day free trial which offers the exact same live NBA coverage as ESPN (Foxtel). With Kayo you can stream the 2019 NBA Championship live using eligible mobile devices, and with their split-view feature you can catch up to four events at the same time, ensuring you never miss a key moment of the wide array of sport in the Kayo TV guide.
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Kayo Sports vs NBA League Pass vs Foxtel
Australian fans have several options for watching the NBA Finals including Kayo Sports, Foxtel and the NBA League Pass. Each option has benefits and drawbacks, so let’s compare them to see which suits you best.
NBA League Pass: NBA League Pass is a popular means for international fans of the NBA to tune into the action. Available on desktop devices as well as through the NBA app on mobiles and various smart TVs, subscriptions can be purchased for one game ($8.99), one month ($39.99) or the rest of the season ($99.99). The NBA League Pass gives you access to every single game live and on-demand with a number of the same features as Kayo Sports, but you certainly pay the price for it. During the regular season when a large majority of games aren’t available on Kayo, this option perhaps has a little more benefit, but at this stage of the year and with every Finals game airing on Kayo, the extra price likely isn’t justified for most people.
Foxtel: A Foxtel subscription will provide you with the exact same coverage and games as Kayo Sports, with both broadcasting the offerings of ESPN of Australia. Both the Foxtel cable TV option and Foxtel Now, however, require you to sign up to a base package prior to adding on sports channels, meaning the total cost will end up significantly more than it does with Kayo. Each of them will cost you a minimum of just under $60/month, and although Foxtel Now does currently have a 10 day free trial, Kayo’s two-week free trial will give you an extra four days of action on the house. Purchasing a Foxtel subscription does, of course, mean that you also have access to a range of TV shows and entertainment channels to go along with the sports, but if you’re just looking for some NBA action then Kayo certainly offers better value for money.
