Where to watch NBA Finals: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5

Business Insider

8 hours ago

The tight Thunder vs. Pacers series returns to Oklahoma City for Game 5. We've combed through all of the best streaming options to highlight everything you need to know about where to watch the NBA Finals.
The No. 4 Indiana Pacers have held their own against the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers won Games 1 and 3, while the Thunder dominated in Games 2 and 4. With the exception of Game 2, the final scores have been within 10 points, making it a thoroughly tight series, a stark contrast to last year's 4-1 Boston Celtics win against the Dallas Mavericks.
While the Thunder franchise, originally the Seattle SuperSonics, technically won a championship in 1979 under their West Coast name, the team is vying for its first title as the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Indiana Pacers are also looking for their first-ever win after last making it to the Finals in 2000 and ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Lakers. It's safe to say that a W for either team would be a franchise-defining moment.
We'll break down some of the best sports streaming options below for those without cable. But if you don't want to read any further: the absolute cheapest way to live stream the NBA Finals in the US without a free trial is via Sling TV. You can learn more about the app below, including where to find the game in the TV guide and a 50% off promotional offer for new customers.
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What channel are the NBA Finals on?
Game 5 will air on ABC in the US. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET, but the network's NBA Countdown Coverage will begin at 8. All games in the 2025 NBA Finals will air on ABC, so once you find a viewing option that works, you'll be all set for the rest of the series.
Where to watch NBA Finals in the US
As we mentioned above, the absolute cheapest way for US cord-cutters to live stream the NBA Finals without a free trial is through Sling TV, since ESPN Plus won't be carrying the series. Sling costs $46 per month, but new customers can get 50% off their first month of service. That means you can watch every game of the NBA Finals (even if the series makes it to Game 7) for $23. Sling is a month-to-month cable alternative, which means that you can cancel at any time.
You'll want to sign up for Sling's Orange plan, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and 30 other popular live channels. ESPN3 live streams NBA on ABC games, so you'll be able to watch the Finals here. This is how I personally watched the Game 5 Championship win in 2024, and I've double-checked the Sling TV guide this year to confirm that Game 5 will live stream on ESPN3 tonight.
While Sling doesn't have a free trial for new customers, other live TV streaming services that offer a free trial have significantly higher monthly fees, but they also come with even more channel options. Two of the best live TV streaming services that we've tried ourselves are DirecTV and Fubo. DirecTV 's signature Entertainment plan costs $85 per month, offers access to 90+ channels, and comes with a five-day free trial for new customers. Fubo 's Pro plan starts at $85 per month, comes with at least 150 live channels, and offers a seven-day free trial for new users. Plus, new Fubo users can get $20 knocked off their first month of service.
How to watch NBA Finals from anywhere
NBA fans traveling outside the US can still keep up with their usual viewing methods with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to change the virtual location of their devices. This way, they don't need to miss out on any games just because they're away from home. VPNs are popular ways to improve online security and privacy. The services we've highlighted today require US payment methods, so this option will work best for Americans who are just abroad at the moment.
ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs on the market. It's a top-rated, user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the app and its extensive cybersecurity features in our ExpressVPN review.
Use a VPN to watch these events & shows free:
All the items below have a free streaming option that can be unlocked from anywhere with a VPN. Set it to the corresponding country, and you're all set.
MotoGP - various
Love Island USA - various
Love Island UK - various
Queen's Tennis / Wimbledon - UK
The Traitors - various
Walking Dead: Dead City - New Zealand
Poker Face - New Zealand
The Handmaid's Tale - Australia
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.