The 2023 NBA Play-in Tournament: How to Watch for Free Online

Based on a Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

This guide will show you several free methods you can use to watch the NBA Play-In tournament this week. The guide applies to all streaming services, including Firestick, Android TV, Chromecast, and Nvidia Shield.

The NBA Play-In tournament has become a popular addition to the NBA regular season in recent years, providing exciting matchups and thrilling basketball action. In 2023, the tournament promises to be just as exciting, with a new group of teams battling it out for a spot in the NBA playoffs. So far, 12 of the 16 playoff teams have been seeded, thanks to taking positions 1 to 6 in the regular season.

The 8 remaining slots will now be filled through the play-in tournament. The high stakes in the competition mean that whether you’re a die-hard basketball fan or a casual viewer, the tournament is sure to offer some of the most exhilarating basketball you’ll see all year.

To help you catch the games live, this guide will show you multiple free and paid methods you can use to watch the 2023 NBA Play-In tournament.

NBA Play-In Tournament Recap

The NBA Play-In tournament is a relatively new addition to the NBA regular (or playoff) season that was introduced in 2020. The tournament was designed as a way to make the end of the regular season more exciting and provide a playoff opportunity for more teams. So far, it has proven to be a fan favorite, and it generates a huge amount of buzz and engagement on social media.

The Play-In tournament features teams that finished between 7^th and 10^th place in their respective conferences. The four teams compete for the two slots available in the playoffs in an elimination format. The winning teams will then be ranked as the seventh and eighth seeds.

The 7^th and 8^th place teams will only need to win 1 out of 2 games, while the 9^th and 10^th place teams need to win two out of two games to book a spot in the playoffs.

Below is the structure of the NBA’s Play-In tournament games.

• In each conference, the teams that finish in 7^th and 8^th place will face off in the tournament’s first game. The winner of that game will advance to the playoffs as the seventh seed.
• The teams that finish in 9^th and 10^th place in each conference will play each other in the tournament’s second game. The loser of this game will be eliminated from the tournament, and their season will be over. The winner of the game will advance to the third game of the tournament.
• In the third game, the loser of the first game (7^th vs 8^th) will play against the winner of the second game (9^th vs 10^th). The winner of this game will advance as the eighth seed and take the final playoff spot.

Below is an image showing the structure of the tournament.

Who’s competing in the Play-In Tournament?

Below are the teams that will be taking place in the tournament as of April 8.

Eastern Conference

7. Miami Heat vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks

9. Toronto Raptors vs. 10. Chicago Bulls

Western Conference

7. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. New Orleans Pelicans

9. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Updated 2023 Playoff Picture | NBA.com

When is the 2023 Play-In Tournament?

Below is a breakdown of the schedule.

April 11

April 11

Game	Time (ET)	US TV
Play-In Game 3 (East 9 vs. East 10)	7 p.m.	ESPN
Play-In Game 4 (West 9 vs. West 10)	9:30 p.m.	ESPN

April 14

Game	Time (ET)	US TV
Play-In Game 5 (Loser East 7/8 vs. Winner East 9/10)	7:30 p.m.	TNT
Play-In Game 6 (Loser West 7/8 vs. Winner West 9/10)	10:00 p.m.	ESPN

How to watch the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament

All these will let you watch the tournament for free.

Method 1: Watch NBA Play-Tournament Using Official Apps

There are various apps you can use to watch the 2023 NBA play-In Tournament, but they vary depending on the region.

US (Multiple Apps)

The official broadcasting partners for the 2023 NBA Play-In tournament are ESPN and TNT. However, if you’re looking to watch the games through official apps, you’ll have to filter through several options.

For ESPN, you can download the ESPN+ app from the official app store on your device. A monthly subscription to ESPN+ goes for $9.99 and will give you access to all ESPN content, including the NBA Play-In tournament. The streaming service will allow you to stream the games live and catch up on any missed games through its on-demand feature.

As for TNT, while there isn’t a dedicated app for the channel, you can access it through various streaming services. Popular streaming services that offer TNT include YouTube TV, Hulu TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV. These services also offer ESPN, so you can use them to stream all six games of the NBA Play-In tournament live.

It’s important to note that these services may require a monthly subscription, and their pricing varies. However, most of them offer a free trial period lasting between 5 and 7 days, allowing you to test the service and watch the tournament for free.

If you’re located outside the US and want to access these streaming services, you’ll need to use a reliable streaming VPN such as IPVanish. A VPN service will provide you with a US-based IP address, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions and access the services from anywhere in the world.

Now TV (UK)

For viewers in the UK, the NBA Play-In tournament will be broadcast by Sky Sports, with all the games airing on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena. You can watch the tournament using Sky’s Now TV streaming service. The app provides access to all the Sky Sports channels, and you can choose between a daily and a monthly pass. The daily pass costs £11.98, while the monthly pass is £21.

However, it’s important to note that, like most official streaming services, Now TV is geo-restricted and only available in the UK and Ireland. If you’re located outside the UK and still want to access the Sky Sports channels, you’ll need to use IPVanish. The VPN has servers in several UK cities, allowing geo-restrictions to be circumvented easily.

NBA League Pass (Worldwide)

For those who are looking for a more comprehensive way to watch the NBA Play-In tournament and playoffs, the NBA League Pass is the perfect option. With the League Pass, you get access to all NBA games, including the Play-In tournament and the playoffs, live and on-demand.

The NBA League Pass is available in almost every country in the world, except for the US, where live games are not available due to blackout restrictions. The cost of the service varies depending on your country, but it typically goes for around $14.99 a month with a 7-day free trial. There are also cheaper packages, such as team-specific passes, which are perfect for fans who only want to watch their favorite team.

It’s worth noting that the NBA League Pass is also subject to geo-restrictions. If you’re located outside the country where you have purchased your subscription, you’ll need to use a reliable VPN service to access the service.

Method 2: Watch the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament using Free Streaming Apks

Another way to watch the NBA Play-In tournament is through the use of third-party streaming apps. These are free apps that provide access to the most popular live TV channels from around the world.

Some channels provided by free streaming apks are TNT, ESPN, Sky Sports Main Event, and Sky Sports Action, all of which will be airing the NBA tournament. However, it’s important to note that these free apps do not own the content they provide, so there are precautions you need to take.

⚠ Free Streaming Precautions

While free streaming apps can offer access to the NBA Play-In tournament, it’s important to be aware of the legal concerns of using these services. Governments and ISPs usually monitor user activity and detect when content is being accessed illegally, potentially leading to serious consequences.

👉 To protect yourself, it’s recommended to use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address. However, it’s important to choose a reputable VPN service. A good VPN should offer a balance of privacy, security, and fast speeds for streaming.

After that, you can check out the apps below.

1. Rapid Streamz

Rapid Streamz is a well-known apk that allows you to stream live TV channels from different countries on your Android device. The app has a vast array of channels from different categories, such as sports, news, movies, and entertainment. Its interface is straightforward to use, with channels grouped into categories based on countries, languages, and genres. You can also use a search function to find your desired channel quickly.

On the home screen of Rapid Streamz, you can find a broad range of sports, including Football, Cricket, Boxing, UFC, WWE, and Motorsport. The app also features regional channels categorized under different countries such as the USA, UK, India, and Pakistan. To watch the NBA Play-In tournament, you can head over to the sports TV section and choose either ESPN, Sky Sports Main Event, or Super Sport Action to stream the live event. TNT is also available on USA TV.

How to Install Rapid Streamz on Firestick & Android TV.

2. Live NetTV

If you’re looking for a free way to watch the NBA Play-In tournament, Live NetTV is a great option. The app is highly rated for its extensive collection of channels that are sorted into different categories. These categories are genre and location-based, making it easy to access a particular channel.

Notably, you can access channels such as TNT, ESPN, Sky Sports Main Event, and Sky Sports Action, which will be broadcasting the NBA Play-In tournament. The app also has a live and upcoming events section that allows you to view all available games. Once you select a specific game, you’ll be presented with various channel options to stream from, and you can choose the one that works best for you.

How to Install Live NetTV on Firestick & Android TV

3. Swift Streamz

Swift Streamz is another free streaming app that you can use to watch the NBA Play-In tournament. The app offers a wide range of channels, including TNT, ESPN, and Sky Sports Main Event, which will be broadcasting the tournament. The app also provides channels from 20+ countries, making it a great option for viewers all over the world.

Rapid Streamz has a user-friendly interface that allows you to navigate through different categories and select the channels you want to stream from. It also has a search function that you can use to find a specific game or channel quickly.

How to Install Swift Streamz apk on Firestick & Android TV.

Method 3: Watch the NBA Play-In Tournament using Kodi Addons

Kodi is a versatile media center that can play both offline and online content. The software allows users to configure it by installing third-party addons that provide access to various channels and events, including sports.

By installing a few Kodi addons, you can watch the NBA Play-In tournament as well as other sporting events. However, it’s important to note that Kodi addons also don’t own the content they provide, which makes privacy and security protection essential. To safeguard your online activities, always ensure you are using a reliable VPN such as IPVanish.

After that, you can proceed to install two or three of the recommended addons below.

1. SportHD

The SportHD Kodi addon is a top-tier sports streaming solution offering access to over 15 sports categories. The addon’s content is sourced from the reputable sporthd.me website, which adds a layer of reliability to its performance. Once you launch the addon, you’ll be greeted by four neatly organized sections: Live Events, Alternative Live Events, Sports, and Best Leagues.

While the Live Events section is primarily focused on football (soccer), the Sports section offers a vast array of sports, including Basketball, Motorsport, Handball, Rugby, NFL, UFC, Boxing, Wrestling, Hocket, Darts, and more. To watch the NBA Play-In tournament, navigate to the sports category and select Basketball. One of the significant advantages of SportHD is the wide selection of links available, ensuring that you’ll always have a reliable stream available.

How to Install SportHD Kodi Addon

2. The EndZone

The EndZone is a well-known and widely used Kodi addon that focuses mainly on American sports. The addon provides access to the most popular events and offers an extensive range of sports content. Its home page is divided into several categories: NBA, WWE, NFL, NCAAF, MMA/Boxing, Wrestling, Nascar, and Formula One. These sections are all centered around live events, and you’ll find links to various matches when they are about to start.

To watch the NBA Play-In tournament, simply head to the NBA category. This section features all the NBA matches, and you’ll be able to locate the one you want quickly. Additionally, you’ll have multiple links to choose from, ensuring you have the best streaming experience possible.

How to Install The EndZone Kodi Addon

3. LNTV

LNTV is a superb Kodi addon that streams live TV channels from various countries. The addon sources content from Live NetTV apk and provides over 800 live channels to its users. Its main categories include Sports TV, News, Entertainment, Kids, USATV, UKTV, India TV, and many more.

In the sports section, you can find various channels that will be broadcasting the NBA Play-In tournament live. LNTV provides multiple links for each channel to ensure you get the most reliable streaming experience. You can choose the link with the best quality that also works well with your internet connection speed.

How to Install LNTV Kodi Addon

Other Kodi addons you can install include:

• Mad Titan Sports
• The Loop
• RBTV
• The Crew

Wrap Up

The Play-In tournament has proven to be a superb addition to the NBA regular season, and it is a thrilling bridge to the playoffs. If you want to catch the action, the above apps and addons should have you sorted. However,

Enjoy!