Basketball fans rejoice. The NBA conference finals began last night. The Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers in overtime 133-128. Here’s what you need to know going into the rest of the finals and how to tune in, even if you don’t have a traditional cable TV subscription.
How the NBA conference finals work
The National Basketball Association was founded in 1946. It is made up of 30 teams split into two conferences, the Eastern and Western. The regular season consists of 82 games, which determine eight teams that face off in the playoffs.
The top two teams move onto the conference finals to face off in a seven-game series. First team to win four games gets the title of Conference Champions. The top team from both conferences will eventually go head to head for the NBA championship.
Which teams are in the 2024 conference finals?
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers will battle it out. The Pacers have not been in this position since 2014. The teams will go at it again on Thursday.
In the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves are facing the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks were last in the conference finals in 2022, but the Timberwolves haven’t earned a spot in 20 years.
The Western Conference’s showdown begins tonight (Wednesday, May 22) at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Who are some of the standout NBA players this year?
This year marks a historic first for the NBA conference finals. No current or former Most Valuable Players (MVPs) find themselves in the running. This means there is a big opportunity for a young player to show off their skills on the court. Each team has its own contender looking to make a splash and forward their career.
For the Celtics, forward Jason Tatum is vying for the honor. He will have to contend with Indiana’s guard Tyrese Haliburton. In the Western Conference, guard Anthony Edward is being compared to Michael Jordan, but the Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is also an impressive player.
How can I stream the NBA conference finals live?
Fans will have to tune in and see who ends up on top. Traditional cable subscribers can catch the games on the following networks:
- Eastern Conference games: ESPN and ABC
- Western Conference games: TNT
Cable cord-cutters can utilize live-TV streaming services:
- Sling TV Orange + Blue (includes ESPN, ABC, and TNT)
- Hulu + Live TV (includes ESPN, ABC, and TNT)
Sling is currently offering a 50% discount, bringing the monthly fee down to $30. Hulu is offering a three-day free trial. If you have Max with the Bleacher Report (B/R) sports add-on, you can watch the Western Conference games live there as well.
Another option that will let viewers watch the Eastern Conference finals is Fubo. You can get started with a free seven-day trial if you haven’t signed up before. Good luck!