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How to watch the Boston Celtics: Best options for the 2024 Playoffs
This post was written in partnership with DISH.
The Boston Celtics are one of the most iconic NBA franchises with a storied history. They’re also tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in the league, with 17. That figure includes an impressive eight-in-a-row run from 1959 to 1966. But the team hasn’t been able to replicate the same success in the 2000s. Their last championship came in 2008, during an era that included Hall-of-Famers Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
However, the Celtics have been inching closer to the title in the past two seasons. They fell to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals and took the Miami Heat to the brink in a closely-contested seven-game series with another finals berth on the line in 2023.
Led by their young stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics hold the number 1 seed for the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Here's how to keep up with the Celtics throughout playoff season.
What channels are Boston Celtics playoff games on this season?
You can catch nationally aired Celtics games on ABC, ESPN and TNT. If you’re located in the New England area, NBC Sports Boston is your go-to regional sports network for Celts coverage during the regular season. NBA TV also features the historic team as part of its 100-plus game schedule.
| DISH | DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ABC |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔* |
✔ |
|
ESPN |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| NBA TV |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
| NBC Sports Boston |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
| TNT |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
| *Local channels available only in select locations | ||||||
How to watch the Boston Celtics on DISH (Featured partner)
DISH Network offers one of the most robust channel lineups around from a cable or satellite provider. DISH's four available plans, a slew of add-ons and close to 300 channels mean multiple options for your viewing pleasure.
Plans start with America’s Top 120. This 190-channel package is the most affordable but still packs a punch with local networks, including ABC, plus entertainment from channels like Food Network, USA Network, A&E, Bravo and Disney Channel.
Sports staples ESPN and TNT are included, which should please basketball fans. However, there are no regional sports networks (RSNs) or access to NBA TV. The America’s Top 120 Plus plan is packed with 190-plus channels, sports offerings like Big Ten Network and the NFL Network via the Multi-Sport Pack, as well as more than 35,000 on-demand titles. America’s Top 200 levels up with more than 240 channels and includes everything from its predecessors, plus MLB Network, NHL Network, and more. For film buffs, America’s Top 250’s 290-plus channel roster adds 17 extra movie channels.
Each plan comes with a two-year price lock, free installation and up to 2000 hours of DVR recording storage.
How to watch the Boston Celtics on DIRECTV STREAM
Most people were introduced to DIRECTV as a cable and satellite service, but its live TV streaming option has been making waves for the past few years thanks to an extensive slate of channels. Plans start at $79.99 and top out at $119.99 across four packages.
The base entertainment plan starts off with 75 channels, including ABC, ESPN and TNT. That’s ideal for NBA fans hoping to catch some nationally televised games. Upgrade to the Choice plan for access to NBA TV, which will also net you MLB TV, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel and ESPNU. The Choice plan comes with the bonus of RSNs so Celtics fans can keep up with the team throughout the season. And unlike some other services, there is no regional sports fee. Fans outside Massachusetts can select the NBA League Pass add-on for out-of-market games.
Overall, DIRECTV STREAM is worth consideration if you’re a sports fan as passionate about college sports as you are about the pros. In case you need further convincing, the platform’s unlimited DVR storage ensures that you never miss a moment of your favorite show or sports team.
How to watch the Boston Celtics on Fubo
Fubo made its name as a soccer-centric service but has branched out considerably into providing comprehensive sports action. A monthly subscription to the Pro plan starts at $79.99. If you want to upgrade to the Elite plan, the monthly cost will be $89.99. Fubo also offers the option of a Latino plan for $32.99 a month, which caters to the Spanish-speaking community.
Let’s get the cons out of the way. Fubo doesn’t include some of the more popular cable channels like CNN, BBC, TBS and TNT, which means that basketball fans will miss out on arguably the best NBA studio show, “Inside the NBA.” But there’s still lots to love for Celtics fans. Local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC are all part of the package, in addition to ESPN and NBC Sports Boston. Yet another caveat is that the regional sports fee is tacked on depending on the subscriber’s location. But on the plus side, you can keep close tabs on your team. Level up to the Elite plan for NBA TV’s comprehensive coverage.
Of course, Fubo’s programming is not limited to the pro basketball faithful. Other add-ons explicitly tailored to sports fans are available, including Sports Plus with NFL RedZone, International Sports Plus and NBA League Pass. Plus, recordings with Fubo’s cloud DVR have no expiration date and provide 1,000 hours of storage space if you can’t watch games live.
How to watch the Boston Celtics on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV subscriptions start at $75.99 per month for the Live TV Only version. For $76.99 a month, you can get Hulu’s ad-supported on-demand library, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus—basically three streaming services in one. If you prefer an ad-free experience, get the commercial-free plan for $89.99 per month.
Even though NBA TV is not part of the 90-plus channel lineup, Boston Celtics fans have plenty of other channels to choose from. Subscribers unlock all local channels, including ABC, the entire ESPN family of networks, and TNT. Maybe it’s the luck of the Irish, but NBC Sports Boston is part of the Hulu + Live TV package despite not typically offering RSNs.
Fans of other professional and amateur sports leagues will appreciate access to the NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, Golf Channel, SEC Network, ACC Network and Big Ten Network. However, the biggest draw of a Hulu + Live TV subscription is undeniably the option for the Disney Plus and ESPN Plus bundle. Check out the complete collection of Marvel movies, the “30 for 30” documentary series and abundant combat sports content. The cherry on top is unlimited DVR storage.
How to watch the Boston Celtics on Sling TV
- Pricing begins at $40.00/mo
- Includes ABC*, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV
- Free trial currently unavailable
Sling TV has made a mark as the most budget-friendly of the increasing collection of streaming services. It’s not typically associated with go-to NBA coverage due to a lack of RSNs and selective availability of local channels. However, you can get ESPN and TNT with the 31-plus channel Orange plan subscription for nationally televised Celtics games. If you spring for the Orange Sports Extra add-on, the package includes NBA TV plus other useful channels like NHL Network, Tennis Channel, beIN SPORTS, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, MLB TV, Longhorn Network and more.
Unfortunately, the Sling TV DVR only has 50 hours of storage capacity. You also get just one simultaneous stream. The exception is the $55 per month Orange & Blue plan, which merges the two base plans for more than 48 channels and simultaneous streaming on up to three devices.
How to watch the Boston Celtics on YouTube TV
YouTube TV’s base plan gives users over 100 channels for $72.99 per month. In addition to ABC, ESPN, and TNT, the package also includes NBA TV. The streamer is not known for its RSNs, but Celtics fans can take advantage of another stroke of luck with NBC Sports Boston in the lineup. You can get even more in-depth coverage with the NBA League Pass add-on if you still crave more pro ball content.
Fans of other sports leagues will be pleased with the recent addition of the coveted NFL Sunday Ticket add-on, which allows subscribers to watch out-of-market games. Consume even more action on other popular channels like Fox Sports 1 (FS1), CBS Sports Network and the Tennis Channel. The Sports Plus add-on provides 13 more viewing options, including beIN SPORTS, Billiard TV, FanDuel TV, Fight Network, Fox Soccer Plus, Impact Wrestling and NFL RedZone.
One of YouTube TV’s coolest features is the ability to customize your experience with up to six personalized user profiles set to your preferred shows. You also don’t have to worry about missing out on games with unlimited DVR storage at your disposal.
How to watch Boston Celtics out-of-market games with NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass is a subscription-based platform providing live and on-demand NBA games. However, users in the United States and Canada are subject to blackout restrictions due to multiple media rights agreements. This means that national and locally televised games are restricted depending on your location (as a Celtics fan living in the Massachusetts area, games will be blacked out). It’s important to note that nationally televised games are available for viewing through the archives three hours after airing. Local games take a bit longer to show up in the archives—three days. However, the audio of all live games is available for streaming without restriction.
FAQ
What streaming service are Celtics games on?
Boston Celtics fans can keep up with the team on ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV and NBC Sports Boston via streaming services DISH, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.
How can I watch NBC Sports Boston without cable?
If you’ve decided to pull the plug on your cable connection, there are still options for following the Boston Celtics. Streaming services like DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV carry regional sports network NBC Sports Boston.
Can I watch Celtics games on ESPN Plus?
The ESPN Plus app doesn’t broadcast NBA games, so fans will need to sign up for a service that includes ESPN.
