CBS News
How to watch the NBA conference finals: Full schedule, livestream options, more
This content is sponsored by Sling TV.
Getty Images
The NBA conference finals are here, promising tense matchups from teams hungry for an NBA championship. If you’ve cut the cable cord — or are considering it — subscribing to an affordable live TV streaming platform offering the channels you need to watch your favorite sporting events live is priority No. 1.
We’d like to think of ourselves as streaming platform savants, well-versed in the best streaming platforms available. When it comes to watching the 2024 NBA conference finals, we’re saying yes to Sling TV. The live TV streaming platform offers all the channels we need to watch the NBA conference finals at a surprisingly affordable price, especially compared with cable TV. And when the NBA conference finals are over, we’ll be able to watch the NBA Finals, NHL, baseball, hockey, NASCAR and many NFL games next season, plus our favorite network and cable TV-aired programs — all on one platform.
Sling TV is a slam dunk for NBA fans who want to watch all the terrific basketball being played in the postseason without wasting money on a hefty monthly cable bill. Tap the button below to sign up now, or read on to learn more about watching the 2024 NBA conference finals on Sling TV.
How and when to watch the 2024 NBA conference finals
The conference finals are scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 21, 2024 when the Indiana Pacers face the Boston Celtics for Game 1 of the teams’ playoffs series. This year’s conference finals will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and TNT, and will stream live on Sling TV.
Sling TV is the best way to stream the 2024 NBA conference finals
If you don’t have cable TV that includes ESPN, TNT and ABC, one of the best and most cost-effective ways to stream the NBA conference finals is through a subscription to Sling TV. To watch every game of the conference finals you’ll need a subscription to the Orange + Blue tier plan, which gives you access to every channel airing the NBA conference finals, and the 2024 NBA Finals airing on ABC.
Sling’s Orange + Blue tier costs $60 per month, but the platform is currently offering 50% off the first month of any pricing tier, making the Orange + Blue tier $30 for the first month.
Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue tier:
- Sling TV is our top choice to stream the NBA Playoffs.
- Sling TV is also our top choice to stream the NHL Playoffs.
- There are 46 channels to watch in total, including ABC, NBC and Fox (where available).
- You get access to NBA games airing on TNT (not available on some other streaming platforms).
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
When are the 2024 NBA conference finals?
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Conference finals schedule
The conference finals are scheduled to be begin on May 21, 2024. Below is the schedule for the NBA conference finals. All times Eastern.
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston vs. (6) Indiana
• Game 1: Pacers vs. Celtics, Tuesday, May 21 (8:00 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Pacers vs. Celtics, Thursday, May 23 (8:00 ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Celtics vs. Pacers, Saturday, May 25 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 4: Celtics vs. Pacers, Monday, May 27 (8:00 ET, ESPN)
• Game 5: Pacers vs. Celtics, Wednesday, May 29 (8:00 ET, ESPN)*
• Game 6: Celtics vs. Pacers, Friday, May 31 (8:00 ET, ESPN)*
• Game 7: Pacers vs. Celtics, Sunday, June 2 (8:00 ET, ESPN)*
* = if necessary
Western Conference
3) Minnesota vs. (5) Dallas
• Game 1: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 22 (8:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 2: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Friday, May 24 (8:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Sunday, May 26 (8:00 ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Tuesday, May 28 (8:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Thursday, May 30 (8:30 ET, TNT)*
• Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Saturday, June 1 (8:30 ET, TNT)*
• Game 7: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Monday, June 3 (8:30 ET, TNT)*
* = if necessary
NBA Finals schedule
The 2024 NBA Finals will begin June 6, airing on ABC and streaming on Sling TV.
- 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)
Who’s playing in the 2024 NBA conference finals?
The Boston Celtics punched a ticket to their third straight appearance in the NBA Eastern Conference finals, after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games during the conference semifinals. They’ll face the Indiana Pacers, who ousted the New York Knicks in Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs.
In the West, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who upset the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the second round of of the playoffs.
While the Celtics team is no stranger to the conference finals, and the Mavericks made an appearance in the Western Conference finals in 2022, the Pacers were last seen in the conference finals in 2014 when they lost to the Miami Heat. But it’s the Timberwolves who have the most to celebrate just by getting this far. It’s been 20 years since Wolves fans saw their team in the Western Conference finals.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
NEW YORK — Drones have been banned from flying over several New Jersey towns, the Federal Aviation Administration confirms to CBS News.
The FAA order covers nearly two dozen towns, including Jersey City, Harrison, Edison, Bayonne and Camden. It will be in effect until Jan. 17.
The order says no unmanned aircraft can operate below 400 feet within one nautical mile of the airspace specified in each area. Additionally, it allows the government to use “deadly force” against the drones if they pose an “imminent security threat.”
“Pilots of aircraft that do not adhere to the procedures in the national security requirements for aircraft operations contained in this section may be intercepted, and/or detained and interviewed by federal, state, or local law enforcement or other government personnel,” the order reads in part.
Several of the zones are centered around infrastructure, like power substations. Others cover areas like the Kearny, New Jersey port and airspace around military installations like Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in South Jersey, or airports such as Newark-Liberty International Airport.
Earlier this month, the Florham Park, New Jersey police chief told residents drone sightings had been reported above “water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments, and military installations.”
Where are drones banned in New Jersey?
North Jersey:
- Cedar Grove
- Bridgewater
- North Brunswick
- Metuchen
- South Brunswick
- Edison
- Branchburg
- Sewaren
- Jersey City
- Harrison, Essex County
- Elizabeth
- Bayonne
- Clifton
- Kearny
Central Jersey:
South Jersey:
- Burlington
- Evesham
- Camden
- Gloucester City
- Westampton
- Winslow
- Hancocks Bridge, Salem County
See the full order from the FAA here.
Mysterious drones over New Jersey and beyond
Drones sightings have been reported all month long, first over Morris County, New Jersey and then over several other East Coast states.
Federal, state and local officials have been demanding more information about where they are coming from and what’s being done to stop them. The FBI is leading the investigation and tells CBS News it has received thousands of tips.
While the White House says there is no known threat, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking for more federal resources.
On Wednesday, a push from Sen. Chuck Schumer to give local law enforcement more ways to track drones was blocked in the Senate.
Check back soon for the latest updates on this developing story.
contributed to this report.