It hasn’t been an easy NBA season, but the league managed to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and reach the playoff stage.
This year’s postseason will look slightly different with the addition of the play-in tournament, which will expand the field from 16 to 20 total teams. But when it comes down to the playoff bracket, the mission is still the same: Win 16 games, and capture the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2021 NBA playoffs, including TV schedules for playoff games.
MORE: Watch select NBA playoff games live with fuboTV (7-day trial)
NBA playoff bracket 2021
How to watch NBA playoff games
NBA playoff games will once again be split between ESPN and TNT. First- and second-round games are scattered across both networks. Every NBA Finals game will be shown exclusively on ABC.
The primary outlets for live streaming 2021 NBA playoff games are Watch ESPN and Watch TNT, both available on desktop and by downloading the mobile apps.
Games on ABC and ESPN can also be streamed on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
NBA playoff schedule 2021
(All times Eastern)
June 6
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Hawks vs. 76ers | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| Mavericks vs. Clippers | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
June 7
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Bucks vs. Nets | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Nuggets vs. Suns | 10 p.m. | TNT |
June 8
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Hawks vs. 76ers | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Clippers/Mavericks vs. Jazz | 10 p.m. | TNT |
June 9
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Nuggets vs. Suns | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
June 10
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Nets vs. Bucks | TBD | ESPN |
| Clippers/Mavericks vs. Jazz | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
June 11
| Game | Time | National TV |
| 76ers vs. Hawks | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Suns vs. Nuggets | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
June 12
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Jazz vs. Clippers/Mavericks | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
June 13
| Game | Time | National TV |
| Nets vs. Bucks | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| Suns vs. Nuggets | 8 p.m. | TNT |