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How to watch today’s Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics NBA Playoff game: Game 1 livestream options, more
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The Boston Celtics host the No. 8 seed Miami Heat for Game 1 of Round 1 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Jayson Tatum’s Celtics have dominated the 2023-24 NBA season, easily sliding into the playoffs the top seed in the East.
The beginning of an exciting series, don’t miss today’s game. Keep reading for how and when to watch the Heat vs. Celtics game.
How and when to watch the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics game
Today’s NBA playoff game between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics will be played on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on ABC and stream on SlingTV and the platforms featured below.
How to watch the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics game without cable
If your cable subscription doesn’t carry ABC or you’ve cut the cord with your cable company, you can still watch today’s game. Below are the platforms on which you can watch today’s game live.
Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream the 76ers vs. Knicks game
One of the most cost-effective ways to stream today’s game is through a subscription to Sling TV. To watch today’s game, you’ll need a subscription to the Blue tier, which includes ABC. For access to more NBA playoff games, upgrade to the Orange + Blue tier (recommended), which includes the games played on ESPN.
The Blue tier is normally $45 per month, but Sling TV has an offer for new subscribers where you can get your first month for $20. The Orange + Blue tier costs $35 for your first month, and $60 per month after that. There’s also a NBA playoffs package deal where you can save $30 when you pre-pay for three months of service on any tier. You can cancel anytime.
Note: Because Sling TV doesn’t carry CBS, you won’t be able to watch CBS-aired live sports, including the NFL. If you’re looking for one live TV streaming platform to watch all your favorite sports, we suggest a subscription to Fubo or Hulu + Live TV.
Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue tier:
- There are 46 channels to watch in total, including ABC, ESPN, TNT and TBS.
- You get access to NFL games airing on ESPN next season at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
Watch the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics game for free with Fubo
You can also catch today’s game on Fubo. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to ABC and ESPN, in addition to almost every NFL game next season.
To watch the NBA Playoffs without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to NBA basketball, you’ll have access to NFL football, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. Fubo’s Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial.
Sports fans will want to consider adding on the $7.99 per month Fubo Extra package, which includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, SEC Network and more channels with live games. Or upgrade to the Fubo Elite tier and get all the Fubo Extra channels, plus the ability to stream in 4K, starting at $90 per month ($70 for the first month).
Top features of FuboTV Pro Tier:
- There are no contracts with Fubo, you can cancel anytime.
- The Pro tier includes 195 channels, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
- Fubo includes most channels you’ll need to watch live sports, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
- All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
- Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.
Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle: Watch the Heat vs. Celtics game live
You can watch today’s game with the Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. The bundle features 95 channels, including ABC, TNT, local network affiliates and ESPN. It also includes the ESPN+ streaming service. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch today’s game, the 2024 NBA playoffs, MLB this season and network-aired NFL games next season with Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+. It’s priced at $77 after a three-day free trial.
2024 NBA Playoffs: Full playoff schedule
Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs will start April 20.
First round schedule
Below are the dates, times and networks airing each game of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. All times Eastern.
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Miami Heat
• Game 1: Heat vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 21 (1:00 p.m. ET on ABC)
• Game 2: Heat vs. Celtics; Wednesday, April 24 (7:00 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 3: Celtics vs. Heat; Saturday, April 27 (6:00 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 4: Celtics vs. Heat; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5: Heat vs. Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics vs. Heat; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Heat vs. Celtics; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
• Game 1: 76ers vs. Knicks; Saturday, April 20 (6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN)
• Game 2: 76ers vs. Knicks; Monday, April 22 (7:30 p.m. on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 3: Knicks vs. 76ers; Thursday, April 25 (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 4: Knicks vs. 76ers; Sunday, April 28 (1:00 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 5: 76ers vs. Knicks; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Knicks vs. 76ers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: 76ers vs. Knicks; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers
• Game 1: Pacers vs. Bucks; Sunday, April 21 (7:00 p.m. on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 2: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 23 (8:30 p.m. on NBA TV)
• Game 3: Bucks vs. Pacers; Friday, April 26 (5:30 p.m. on ESPN)
• Game 4: Bucks vs. Pacers; Sunday, April 28 (7:00 p.m. on TNT)
• Game 5: Pacers vs. Bucks; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Bucks vs. Pacers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pacers vs. Bucks; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Orlando
• Game 1: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Saturday, April 20 (1:00 p.m. on ESPN)
• Game 2: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Monday, April 22 (7:00 p.m. on NBA TV)
• Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Thursday, April 25 (7:00 p.m. on NBA TV)
• Game 4: Cavaliers vs. Magic; Saturday, April 27 (1:00 p.m. on TNT)
• Game 5: Magic vs. Cavaliers; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Cavaliers vs. Magic; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Magic vs. Cavaliers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
• Game 1: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Sunday, April 21 (9:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 2: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, April 24 (9:30 p.m. on TNT, TruTV)
• Game 3: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Saturday, April 27 (3:30 p.m. on TNT)
• Game 4: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
• Game 5: Pelicans vs. Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Thunder vs. Pelicans; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pelicans vs. Thunder; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
• Game 1: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Saturday, April 20 (8:00 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 2: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 22 (10:00 p.m. on Spectrum Sportsnet+)
• Game 3: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Thursday, April 25 (10:00 p.m. on Spectrum Sportsnet+)
• Game 4: Nuggets vs. Lakers; Saturday, April 27 (8:30 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Nuggets vs. Lakers; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Lakers vs. Nuggets; TBD (TBD, TBD)*
= If necessary
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
- Game 1: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, April 20 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Game 2: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Friday, April 26 (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Sunday, April 28 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Game 5: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
- Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Suns; Thursday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)*
- Game 7: Suns vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, May 4 (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
(4) LA Clippers vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
• Game 1: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, April 21 (3:30 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 2: Mavericks vs. Clippers, Tuesday, April 23 (10:00 p.m. on Clippervision)
• Game 3: Clippers vs. Mavericks, Friday, April 26 (8:00 p.m. on Clippervision)
• Game 4: Clippers vs. Mavericks, Sunday, April 28 (3:30 p.m. on ABC)
• Game 5: Mavericks vs. Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 6: Clippers vs. Mavericks, TBD (TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Mavericks vs. Clippers, TBD (TBD, TBD)*
* = If necessary
Conference semifinals schedule
The conference semifinals will begin May 6-7, but can move up to May 4-5 if the prior round’s series ends early.
Conference finals schedule
The conference finals will begin May 21-22, but can move up to May 19-20 if the prior round’s series ends early.
NBA Finals schedule
The 2024 NBA Finals will begin June 6, airing on ABC.
- Sunday, June 9: Game 2
- Wednesday, June 12: Game 3
- Friday, June 14: Game 4
- Monday, June 17: Game 5 (if necessary)
- Thursday, June 20: Game 6 (if necessary)
- Sunday, June 23: Game 7 (if necessary)
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Borrowing from your home equity can be a wise way to improve your financial health, especially in today’s economy. For example, you can tap into home equity to fund home renovations that may improve your home’s value. Similarly, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) typically offer lower rates than credit cards and other types of borrowing products, making them a useful option for consolidating debt and reducing interest costs. And with Americans sitting on an average of $319,000 in home equity currently, these loans may offer higher borrowing limits than other options.
Current economic factors, including inflation and interest rates, are also boding well for borrowers right now, making it an even better time to consider this type of borrowing. For starters, the Federal Reserve is confident enough in the downward inflation trend to cut the federal funds rate at the last three Fed meetings. While the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, the federal funds rate influences the interest rates lenders charge on their lending products. While not at pre-pandemic levels, interest rates on home equity loans and HELOCs are slowly improving. The average home equity loan interest rate is currently 8.41%, while the average HELOC interest rate is 8.52% (as of December 19, 2024).
Still, the only economic constant is change. Inflation increased slightly in October, and other factors could alter the borrowing environment going forward. With that in mind, choosing between a HELOC and home equity loan will depend on your financial goals and how these products respond to changes in the market. Let’s explore which of these two home equity options might make sense for your situation.
Start comparing your home equity borrowing options online now.
Why a HELOC could be better than a home equity loan in 2025
HELOCs work like credit cards, offering a line of credit that can be borrowed from multiple times (up to the credit limit). This type of home equity borrowing can be a useful option if you want to use funds as needed over time, as opposed to getting one large lump-sum payment like a home equity loan. For example, if you’re renovating your home with multiple projects, a HELOC lets you access funds as needed for each phase, helping you avoid borrowing more than necessary upfront.
Just remember, HELOC repayment terms usually start with interest-only payments for a set number of years, typically five or 10 years.
“This is for someone who wants a low starting monthly payment, but keep in mind you may not be paying off all the principal,” says Adam Spigelman, senior vice president at Planet Home Lending. “If you borrow $50,000 and you make interest-only payments for five years, at the end of five years, you’ll still owe $50,000.”
Also keep in mind that HELOCs have variable rates that are tied to an index such as the prime rate, which is typically around 3% higher than the federal funds rate. So if you anticipate the Fed’s rate-cutting trend will continue, a HELOC might save you money in the short term. On the other hand, you might think twice about getting a HELOC if you believe rates will increase during your repayment term.
“When that index rate rises, your monthly payment may also rise. That higher payment can leave you with less money in your pocket, which can make it harder to stay out of debt. If the higher interest rate comes at a time when you’re starting to do the principal repayment, it can lead to payment shock,” Spigelman notes.
Find out how affordable the right home equity borrowing option could be today.
Why a home equity loan could be better than a HELOC in 2025
If you’re looking for more predictable financing, you may prefer a home equity loan for its fixed interest rate and monthly payment that remains the same during the life of the loan, regardless of rate adjustments.
“A home equity loan is a fixed rate and doesn’t fluctuate based on what the Federal Reserve does,” says Jeremy Schachter, branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. “So when the rates come down, your fixed rate doesn’t go down.”
While the Fed’s ongoing rate cuts might reduce borrowing costs on HELOCs in 2025, a home equity loan might be a better long-term option if you expect rates to rise during your loan term.
Home equity loans are a great option if you need a large, lump-sum payment to fund a large expense. You might use one to fund a major home renovation, consolidate high-interest debt or even cover your child’s college tuition. Since home equity loans often have lower rates than private student loans, they may help you save money in the long run.
Should you borrow from your home equity now or wait?
Deciding whether to borrow now or wait until 2025 or later depends on your financial situation, goals and borrowing preferences. As Schachter explains, the type of loan you choose matters, as fixed-rate and variable-rate options affect how your monthly payments change over time.
“Depending on your needs and goals with the funds for the loan, it may make sense not to wait to take out a HELOC because it does change with rates changing. If you are looking for a home equity loan, it may make sense to hold off until next year if your projects or use of the funds can be pushed out,” says Schachter.
The bottom line
Heading into 2025, the choice between a home equity loan and a HELOC comes down to how stable you want your payments to be, and which direction you anticipate interest rates are trending. So, take time to weigh the pros and cons of each option and how they might impact your budget. Finally, remember that home equity loans and credit lines are secured by your home, so you should never borrow more than you need, and make sure the payments fit comfortably into your budget before signing for one.
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