After testing 15+ of the best VPNs available, I shortlisted the 3 best VPNs for watching the 2023 NBA Playoffs live online. ExpressVPN is my top pick with speedy and lag-free servers for the best streaming experience. Thanks to its “no questions asked” 30 day money-back guarantee, you can use ExpressVPN to watch the NBA Playoffs risk-free. Watch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Watch the NBA Playoffs From Anywhere
Watch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN
Where to Watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs Without Cable
You can watch the NBA Playoffs on multiple sites without a cable subscription, but be aware that some of these services require a local credit card or PayPal account. Watch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN
How a VPN Can Help You Watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs
Due to country-specific licensing agreements, if you’re traveling outside of the country your streaming service is based in you’ll be blocked from watching the NBA Playoffs. While you may think free unlicensed streams are the solution, I don’t recommend using them. They are often infected with ads or malware, putting your devices or personal data at risk. These streams also often get taken offline in the middle of a game — the worst thing before your team scores! Connecting to a VPN swaps your IP address with one associated with your VPN server. This means your streaming service will only see the server’s IP address so you’ll be able to access your account without issue. Throughout my testing, ExpressVPN gave me access to NBA live streams in under 5 seconds and its high speeds prevented any lags. With ExpressVPN’s 30-day “no questions asked” money-back guarantee, you can test ExpressVPN for yourself before committing to a plan. Catch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN
3 Best VPNs to Watch the NBA Playoffs in January 2023
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Watching the NBA Playoffs With Zero Buffering
ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for watching 2023 NBA Playoff games for its ultra-responsive server network that can unblock broadcasters from anywhere. I was able to watch with multiple official NBA Playoff broadcasters, including NBA League Pass, DAZN, Hulu, and Sling TV. You’ll have the best NBA Playoffs experience with ExpressVPN’s high-performance servers combined with these services’ high-quality streams! It takes only a few seconds to get connected to ExpressVPN — just choose from the list or search for a country. After I tested multiple countries, they all took less than 6 seconds and the closest servers took just 2 seconds to connect! I was impressed with ExpressVPN’s super-fast servers with no buffering during my tests. This gives you more time to watch every shot rather than wait for a stream to load, which is especially important during live broadcasts! The speeds you get with ExpressVPN are more than fast enough for quality streaming so you don’t miss any buzzer beaters during the playoffs. Surprisingly, my slowest speed during testing was 126Mbps with the New York servers (13,000 km+ from me!). I was able to watch the game while simultaneously downloading multiple files and browsing the web without any interruption. You can try ExpressVPN to watch the NBA Playoffs risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. I signed up for a month subscription and contacted customer support through the 24/7 live chat after 2 weeks of testing its features. The agent approved the refund with no questions asked and the whole process took less than 5 minutes! I had the money back in my account just 4 days later. You can get your refund even faster (within a few hours) if you paid with PayPal. Watch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN ExpressVPN works with: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Kodi, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, various smart TVs, select routers, and more.
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Sports Streaming Servers to Watch the NBA Playoffs From Anywhere
CyberGhost’s optimized servers make it easy to get connected to a fast server for watching the NBA Playoffs. It has 4 dedicated sports streaming servers with NBA Playoff access (ESPN, Sling TV, Hulu, and YouTube TV) that are specially optimized for streaming. These will give you the least lag and fastest speeds for high-quality video, ensuring you don’t miss a single minute of the playoffs! The slowest speed I reached with CyberGhost was 151Mbps with a New York server, which is still fast enough for watching the games in full HD while multitasking online. The provider also supports the most simultaneous device connections on this list — you can watch NBA games on up to 7 devices at once! I tested this by watching on 2 PCs, a Fire Stick, an Android phone, a MacBook, and an iPad simultaneously. There was no noticeable slowdown or lag with any of the streams. You can check out CyberGhost’s optimized sports servers with its 45-day money-back guarantee. With a refund period this long, you can watch the entire playoffs with zero risk! I checked the policy by signing up for a 1-month plan and then contacted customer support through the live chat. Although the agent tried to convince me to stay, they immediately confirmed the refund after I told them I just didn’t need the service anymore. I received the refund transfer just 3 days later! Watch the NBA Playoffs with CyberGhost CyberGhost works with: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Kodi, various Smart TVs, select routers, and more.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Watch the Playoffs With Friends on up to 10 Devices Simultaneously
PIA lets you share your VPN connection with your friends so you can watch the Playoffs together on up to 10 devices at once. My team and I tested PIA with 10 devices and maintained high-quality streams. This means you’ll never have to miss a slam dunk because of lagging or interruptions. PIA is a great option for new VPN users as its app interface is super user-friendly. It took me under a minute to set up my connection! All I had to do was select the US as my preferred country and press “On”. The only minor downside to PIA is that its speeds tend to slow down based on your distance from the server. I experienced longer loading times and some buffering =when I connected to the “US East” server from my location in California. However, when using the same server, my colleague in New York maintained HD streaming quality and consistently fast speeds. As with anything you’re potentially spending money on, I recommend you test PIA for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the refund myself by connecting to the 24/7 live chat to ask for a refund. The PIA agent approved my request within minutes and my money was back in my account within 6 working days. Watch the NBA Playoffs with PIA
You Shouldn’t Use Free VPNs to Watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs — Here’s Why
I’ve done in-depth research on the best available free VPNs, but I wouldn’t recommend any for watching the NBA Playoffs due to technical or security issues. Free VPNs are a bad choice for streaming because of their limited bandwidth, speeds, and small server networks. They can easily become overcrowded, leading to unstable connections with frequent buffering or dropping completely. Since they don’t have the resources to keep their IP and DNS addresses updated, they can’t bypass blocks on the most popular streaming platforms. Since free VPNs need to make money, they’re known to sell your personal information when you use them. Some even sell user data to advertisers or give malicious third parties access to your network. You can avoid all of these issues by choosing a quality premium VPN with a money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has a large network of fast and responsive servers, making it perfect for streaming the NBA Playoffs. You can try it risk-free with its money-back guarantee.
Can I watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs online for free?
There are no official high-quality free broadcasters, but several of the streaming services I listed have free trials. You can combine the free trials with the money-back guarantee of a VPN for risk-free access to several playoff games. The top VPN on this list (ExpressVPN) offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it yourself and test a few streaming services to see which you like the best. Remember that you can also use a VPN to connect to a different country to get cheaper subscription prices! Watch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN
What should I do if my VPN doesn’t unblock an NBA Playoff broadcaster?
Although my top VPN picks for watching the NBA Playoffs online are great at unblocking numerous broadcasters, other VPNs sometimes encounter errors. If you run into an issue, try the following:
What else can a VPN do besides help me watch the NBA Playoffs?
With a reliable premium VPN, you can: Protect your devices with ExpressVPN!
Slam Dunk on Regional Blocks and Watch the 2023 NBA Playoffs Today!
The NBA Playoffs have many nerve-racking moments while the teams dribble to the very last moment as they move towards the Finals! Since every millisecond counts, you need a lightning-fast and lag-free VPN for the best streaming experience from anywhere. With the fastest loading times and impressively high speeds, ExpressVPN is my top pick for watching the NBA Playoffs in 2023. You can watch all the games lag-free and in high resolution, along with other sporting events such as the NFL, MLB, and Premier League. Test it out yourself — try ExpressVPN and watch the NBA Playoffs risk-free. If you’re not satisfied, you can get an instant refund with zero risk until the trial is up. Watch the NBA Playoffs with ExpressVPN!
