Atlanta and New York meet again tonight in Game 2 of their first-round NBA postseason series, with NBC carrying the broadcast in the US and Peacock offering the lowest-cost streaming route for many viewers. For anyone trying to watch without a cable bundle, the real question is less about the on-court stakes than about which service offers the right mix of price, local channel access, and flexibility.
The cheapest US option comes with a trade-off
Peacock is the simplest answer for viewers who want the lowest monthly cost. The service’s Premium tier starts at $11 a month, while Premium Plus at $17 a month adds broader live NBC access and removes ads from much of the on-demand library. That makes Peacock attractive not only for this broadcast, but also for people who already watch NBC entertainment programming, Universal films, or occasional live events.
The caveat is that streaming rights and live-channel access can vary by plan. Anyone signing up primarily for this broadcast should confirm that the specific Peacock tier meets their needs before subscribing. For budget-conscious households, that extra minute of checking can prevent paying for the wrong package.
Live TV bundles offer more channels, but cost more
Viewers who want a fuller channel lineup have other options. DirecTV includes NBC in certain genre packs and broader channel bundles, with entry pricing starting at $40 a month for MyNews and $65 a month for MySports, alongside a five-day free trial for new customers. Sling TV can be cheaper than a traditional cable replacement, but local channel availability depends on where you live, which is a recurring complication in the streaming market.
That local-carriage issue matters. NBC access on Sling is not universal, so viewers need to check ZIP-code availability before relying on it. This is one of the less glamorous realities of streaming television in the US: headline prices are easy to compare, but local broadcast rights still shape what any household can actually watch.
UK coverage is more straightforward
In the UK, the viewing path is clearer. The broadcast will be available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action, with streaming also available through Now Sports. That gives casual viewers a short-term option through a day pass, while regular basketball viewers may prefer a longer Sky arrangement or NBA League Pass, which also carries postseason coverage and can be added through Prime Video.
The contrast with the US market is familiar. British viewers often face higher base prices for premium television, but the route to the event is usually easier to identify. In the US, lower entry pricing can be offset by a patchwork of tiers, local restrictions, and service-specific limitations.
Traveling viewers can keep access, within legal limits
People who are abroad temporarily may be able to use their home subscriptions with a VPN, which changes a device’s apparent location and can help apps behave as if the user were back home. Services such as NordVPN are widely used for privacy and security as well as travel access, and many offer money-back guarantees.
That said, viewers should be careful. VPN use is restricted or unlawful in some countries, and using one to bypass regional streaming limits can violate a platform’s terms. The safest approach is to treat a VPN as a travel tool for an existing subscription, not as a workaround for content a service does not license in your region.
For this specific broadcast, the practical hierarchy is simple: Peacock is the cheapest mainstream option in the US, DirecTV and Sling offer broader channel bundles at a higher or more variable cost, and UK viewers can turn to Sky or Now. The best choice depends on whether you want one night of access or a service that will cover the rest of the postseason as well.