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How to Watch Los Angeles Lakers Playoff Games Live Online in 2023

Written by John O'Connor

Last updated on

Watch the Lakers take on the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals live without cable on ABC, ESPN, and TNT with Sling TV Orange, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV.

Watch the Lakers live online
LA Lakers viewing guide 2022-23.
Table of Contents
  1. How to watch tonight’s Lakers playoff game
  2. The most important channels for Lakers fans
  3. If you live in SoCal
  4. How to watch the Lakers out-of-market
  5. Watching the Lakers FAQ
  6. More NBA Team Viewing Guides
  • In-market. At present, DIRECTV STREAM is the only live TV streaming service that carries Spectrum SportsNet, the regional sports network that broadcasts Lakers games to local fans in and around Los Angeles.
  • Warriors series. Our top picks are Sling Orange, which carries ESPN and TNT, plus the ability to live-stream the ABC games on ESPN3 with the ESPN app, and DIRECTV STREAM, which offers more comprehensive coverage all season long.

DIRECTV STREAM – Choice

Watch KTTV FOX 11 Los Angeles, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, TNT, FS1, Spectrum SportsNet, and more.

$99.99 / month

5 Day Free Trial

Sling Orange

Watch ESPN, ESPN3, and TNT.

$35 / month

Explore offers

YouTube TV

Watch ABC, ESPN, and TNT.

$72.99 / month

14 Day Free Trial

NBA League Pass

Watch out-of-market Lakers games.

$14.99 / month

Sign Up

How to watch tonight’s Lakers playoff game

Which channel is the Lakers game on tonight and when does the game tip-off? We list the Lakers TV schedule, as well as the live TV streaming services that carry each game, in the easy to use table below.

The most important channels for Lakers fans

Spectrum SportsNet is the regional sports network that carries the majority of Lakers games for fans in SoCal. Nationally televised Lakers games will air on ABC, ESPN, and TNT.

DIRECTV STREAM – ChoiceDIRECTV STREAMFuboHulu + Live TVSling Orange & BlueYouTube TVBally Sports+
ABC ABC
ESPN ESPN
ESPN3 ESPN3
NBA TV NBA TV
Spectrum SportsNet Spectrum SportsNet
TNT TNT

If you live in SoCal

Watch the Lakers on DIRECTV STREAM

In-market Lakers fans who want to follow the team week in and week out have DIRECTV STREAM “Choice” as their only option as the platform is currently the only live TV streaming service that carries Spectrum SportsNet.

How to watch the Lakers out-of-market

Do you live in NYC, Boston, Cleveland or Miami, and want to watch the Lakers live stream? NBA League Pass is your best option. You can signup for NBA League Pass à la carte on Amazon Prime, or the package can be added to an existing YouTube TVSling TVfuboTV, or DIRECTV STREAM account. Lakers fans take note: if you live in SoCal, NBA League Pass will be blacked out in favor of Spectrum SportsNet’s TV rights.

Watching the Lakers FAQ

Can I watch the Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet LA?

You can watch the Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet, not Spectrum SportsNet LA. Lakers games are carried on Spectrum SportsNet, while the Dodgers are covered by Spectrum SportsNet LA.

Can I watch the Lakers on YouTube TV?

No, if you are a Lakers fans living in SoCal, you can’t watch the Lakers on YouTube TV because YouTube TV doesn’t carry Spectrum SportsNet. However, if you live out-of-market, you can watch the Lakers on NBA League Pass.

Can I watch the Lakers on Sling TV?

Not in-market games, no. The only Lakers games you can watch on Sling TV are out-of-market broadcasts and some national broadcasts. If you live in LA, you can’t watch most Lakers games on Sling TV because the platform doesn’t carry Spectrum SportsNet. When the Lakers are on ESPN, or TNT, you can watch the game on Sling Orange. If you live out-of-market, you can watch the Thunder on Sling TV by adding NBA League Pass to an existing subscription.

Can I watch the Lakers on Hulu?

Hulu + Live TV doesn’t carry Spectrum SportsNet, and doesn’t offer an NBA League Pass upgrade, so the platform isn’t a good option for watching the Lakers. The only Lakers games you can watch on Hulu + Live TV are nationally televised games on ABC, ESPN, and TNT, including playoff games.

Can I watch the Lakers on ESPN Plus?

No, you can’t watch the Lakers on ESPN Plus. One of the big drawbacks with ESPN Plus is the lack of NFL, NBA, and big college football games.

Can I watch the Lakers game online for free?

While you can’t watch the entire Lakers season live online for free, DIRECTV STREAM usually offers a 5 day free trial, which could be used one time to watch the Lakers for free in a 5 day time span.

Can I watch the Lakers on Philo TV?

No, you can’t watch the Lakers on Philo TV. The Philo TV platform doesn’t offer any sports programming or sports channels.

Can I watch the Lakers on fuboTV?

Not if you live in-market, no. You can’t watch most Lakers games on fuboTV if you live in SoCal. Unfortunately, fuboTV doesn’t carry Spectrum SportsNet or TNT. However, you can add NBA League Pass to a fuboTV account to watch the Lakers out-of-market, and you can watch the nationally televised Lakers games that air on ABC or ESPN, including playoff games, on fuboTV.


More NBA Team Viewing Guides

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