Where to watch NBA Finals: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5
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.
Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp to stay up to date on the latest streaming deals, guides, and reviews
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
2024-25 Thunder player grades: Alex Ducas
The calendar has flipped to August, which means we've officially hit the low point of the NBA cycle. The next couple of months are the driest part of the year. Everybody has headed to vacation and awaits training camp to kick off the 2025-26 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to enjoy their NBA championship. They had a historic 68-14 regular-season campaign that eventually led to the franchise's first title with a 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 win. They'll enter next season as a favorite to be a rare repeat winner. To reflect on their title run, Thunder Wire will conduct 2024-25 season grades for all 19 players who suited up for the squad at one point during the year. Seventeenth up is Alex Ducas, who spent the year on a two-way deal: 2024-25 statistics: Advanced stats: Significant Percentile Finishes: Contract: Thoughts: If Ducas' NBA career is over after one season, he had his money's worth. The 24-year-old can always say he was part of one of the greatest teams in league history and got a championship ring out of it. Besides that, though, not much to write about his forgettable tenure. The Thunder added Ducas on a two-way deal. He went undrafted out of Saint Mary's. He was brought in as an outside shooter. In his limited time, the numbers showed that. Because the Thunder blew teams out left and right, the end of their bench received plenty of garbage time throughout the year. Ducas benefitted from that. He appeared in 21 games. A high number for somebody who missed most of the season dealing with injuries. Besides that, he didn't do much else during his time with the Thunder. Not much either with the G League's OKC Blue, either. He faded into the background of most games. It just didn't work out for Ducas on the Thunder. He was added to their 2025 Summer League squad, hinting that maybe they'd like to bring him back for a second season. But those hopes were quickly erased when he signed a deal to go to Australia's NBL. Most undrafted players usually have Ducas' career arc. They stay for one season, but don't get many chances to stay. The injuries certainly didn't help. He missed a good chunk of the year because of them. Even though he only lasted a season in the NBA, he can at least say he experienced a championship. Moving Forward: Even though Ducas didn't do much, he at least proved he can be an outside shooter. The shooting splits reflect that. That'll be his bread and butter the rest of the way, regardless of what level of professional basketball he's in. The NBL was excited to add the NBA champion to its league. They don't get too many guys with that type of experience. Let's see if Ducas can look more comfortable at home. Perhaps he can be a player who spends some time overseas before being given a second shot at the NBA. There's always a need for outside shooters. If he can increase his volume for a couple of years, he can return to the league. The Thunder loved what they saw from Ducas at Maryland. To get a two-way deal as an undrafted rookie is quite the accomplishment. They tried to see if he could show anything at the next level. A handful of injuries limited his opportunities. While his decision to leave the Thunder for the NBL was a bit of a shocker, it's not a catastrophic loss. They still have a vacant two-way spot on their roster. Surely they can find somebody who has equal or greater upside than Ducas over the next couple of months. Final Grade: D-minus
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"If anybody is trying to bad-mouth LeBron James, they don't know basketball" - When Magic Johnson defended LeBron's championship losses
"If anybody is trying to bad-mouth LeBron James, they don't know basketball" - When Magic Johnson defended LeBron's championship losses originally appeared on Basketball Network. Magic Johnson has always admired LeBron James. He recognized what James is capable of as a player and later on as a leader of his team. In fact, LeBron earned more profound respect from Johnson when he played his heart out in the 2015 Finals against the Golden State Warriors. With Kyrie Irving injured, James had to step up and deliver. Unfortunately, the Cavs still lost, marking the fourth Finals defeat of LeBron's career. Despite that, Magic argued that fans shouldn't be quick to criticize LBJ. According to Johnson, who lost four times in his nine Finals appearances, people didn't realize how challenging James' situation was then. Nevertheless, Magic pointed out that LeBron still finished that series as the best player, which was something that not all players could achieve. "He carried that team. He was a one-man show," Johnson said of James in 2015. "And when you look at the numbers he put up and not just scoring himself, but the assists and rebounds, he was the best player on the floor for either team. And I think that he really just cemented his legacy as one of the greatest. Now if he can win a couple more (titles), he can be up there in the top three or four guys that have ever played this game." "If anybody is trying to bad-mouth LeBron James, they don't know basketball, because this guy is tremendous," he added. Magic says LeBron needs to win more titles After the devastating 2015 Finals, James and the Cavs bounced back stronger the following season. They upset the Warriors in their rematch in a historic comeback from being down 1-3. At that point, James was convinced he had become the greatest player ever. Four years later, LBJ secured another title, this time with the Los Angeles Lakers, making him a four-time champion. Johnson was once again impressed by James' ability to lead his team. However, for someone who believes the number of championship rings matters, Magic thinks LeBron needs to win more titles to his name and probably surpass Michael Jordan before he can consider himself the one true GOAT. "I don't know; it might take a couple more championships to do that. LeBron is special, and I don't want people always getting mad— we've got to celebrate both guys; Michael is the best, and we should celebrate him and celebrate LeBron. I hate when people get mad at you when you take one or the other. We should just say, 'Hey, Michael is special,' and he's the best to me because he never lost in the NBA Finals, and he averaged over 30 points a game. That guy is just unbelievable," Johnson once said. "LeBron is special too in his own right too, and people shouldn't forget that either, but when it's all said and done, if you come at me and ask me, that's who I am going to with, and it's MJ," Johnson concluded. LeBron still eyes another championship As it stands, James will be turning 41 years old this upcoming season. It would mark his 23rd year in the league and it's safe to say, he is far from being done. At this stage in his career, LeBron is still eyeing another NBA championship. This time he won't be the focal point of the Lakers offense now that they have a young and rejuvenated Luka Doncic on their roster which should alleviate a lot of the pressure from LeBron. Magic is definitely looking forward to seeing how things play out, but for him, James is already one of the greatest players of all time, with or without winning another story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Crows star could be investigated over alleged comment
Izak Rankine, one of Adelaide's most important players, could come under AFL investigation a week out from the finals. Late on Sunday night several media outlets reported that Rankine may be in trouble for an alleged comment to a Collingwood opponent during Saturday night's massive win. That three-point success in front of a packed house at Adelaide Oval guaranteed the Crows will finish in the top two and secure a home qualifying final. This will be the Crows' first finals appearance since they lost the 2017 grand final to Richmond. Their premierships were in 1997-98. Rankine was among Adelaide's best against the Magpies, kicking a goal late in the second term that gave them the lead for the first time in the match. If a league investigation was to find him guilty of misconduct and he was suspended, it would be a significant blow to Adelaide's finals campaign. There was no official confirmation from the AFL or either club as of late Sunday night that there had been an alleged incident. Adelaide will play North Melbourne next Saturday at Marvel Stadium, their last game before the finals. Rankine, 25, has played 22 games this season for a career total of 105. He is yet to play in a final, having started his AFL career with three seasons at Gold Coast before the Adelaide native was traded to the Crows after the 2022 season.
