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    • Live broadcast of the start of the NBA season
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    Live broadcast of the start of the NBA season

    Kathleen William Posted on

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    The NBA season officially begins tonight in Boston when the Celtics raise their championship banner and accept their rings before a game against the New York Knicks. We'll show you where to watch the Knicks vs. Celtics game at home, whether you have cable or want to live stream the game.

    The Boston Celtics won a record-tying 18th NBA title in June when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the Finals. The team had an outstanding performance overall in the 2023-2024 regular season, leading the league with 64 wins. The New York Knicks also had a decent season, finishing second in the Eastern Conference after having a better season than in the last decade. The team made it through the first round of the 2024 playoffs, but ultimately lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.

    You can also watch tonight's second game, a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET, using our recommended viewing options. To tune in to other upcoming games, check out our guide to watching NBA games throughout the season.

    What channel is the Knicks vs. Celtics game on?

    The Knicks vs Celtics game will be broadcast on TNT in the US. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, but the evening's TV coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. TNT will show the banner raising and ring ceremony at TD Garden, which was scheduled to take place around 7:00 p.m

    Where to watch Knicks vs Celtics in USA

    If you don't have cable or your usual viewing method is missing TNT, you can watch the game via a live streaming service like Max, Sling TV, or DirecTV Stream. All three of these monthly options made it onto our list of the best sports streaming services, and each service offers something a little different from the others.

    Max is the cheapest way to watch the game. The streaming service streams TNT games live through its B/R Sports add-on, so you can watch NBA games every Tuesday and Thursday during the 2024-2025 season. Subscriptions start at $10/month for the ad-supported tier of Max. The B/R Sports add-on will eventually cost an additional $10 per month, but is currently included for free with every new and existing Max subscription.

    Max Streaming Service Commerce Library

    Max with advertising (monthly plan)

    Max is a premium service for fans of prestige television, cult films and unscripted programs. Pricing starts at $10 per month for ad-supported videos, $17 for ad-free videos, and $21 for 4K viewing.

    Sling TV and DirecTV Stream are two other ways to watch TNT. These are live streaming TV packages, meaning they offer multiple live channels so you can catch coverage beyond just the NBA on TNT. They are a great option for those looking for a cable replacement, with long-term contracts or high prices. Both services will give you access to most, if not all, of this season's NBA games beyond those only available on the Warner Bros. channels.

    Sling TV is the cheaper and more compact of the two options. All Sling plans include TNT, but NBA fans should subscribe to Sling Orange as it also carries live ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, among 31 other channels. Subscriptions start at $40/month, making it one of the more affordable live TV packages on the market, and new users can now get their first month for half price.

    Sling TV display case

    Sling TV subscription

    For the essentials without the unnecessary bells and whistles, Sling TV is the streaming service you're looking for. It's more customizable than other plans and offers three options to choose from, so you only pay for what you need. New members receive $25 off their first month.

    DirecTV Stream offers at least 90 live channels, including most of the ones you'll find on a standard cable package like ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. Subscriptions start at $87/month, but first-time customers can try the streamer for free for five days.

    DirecTV Stream logo

    DirecTV stream

    DirecTV Stream, formerly known as AT&T TV, offers streaming access to a wide range of live channels, including most of the major networks typically found in traditional cable packages.

    Here's how you can watch Knicks vs. Celtics from anywhere

    NBA fans traveling outside the US can still enjoy their usual viewing options using a VPN like ExpressVPN. VPNs (virtual private networks) allow people to change their virtual location so they can continue to access their favorite websites and apps just like they would at home. ExpressVPN is our top recommendation because it's easy to use and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can find out more about this in our ExpressVPN review. The streaming subscriptions we highlighted tonight require US payments, making this option best suited for Americans currently abroad.

    ExpressVPN logo

    ExpressVPN plan

    With its consistent performance, reliable security and extensive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN on the market that excels in every way and offers many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get three additional months free today.

    How to watch Knicks vs. Celtics with a VPN

    • Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.
    • Install it on the device you want to watch on.
    • Turn it on and set it to a location in the USA.
    • Sign up for one of the streaming services above using a US payment method.

    • Navigate to TNT and enjoy the game.

      Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content could violate the terms of service for certain services. Insider does not advocate or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

    Author Lillian Brown

    Lillian Brown

    Co-publisher of Streaming

    Lillian Brown is the associate editor of streaming for Business Insider. She joined the company as a fellow in early 2024 before joining us full-time a few months later. She focuses on “How to Watch” guides for streaming services and live events for the Reviews team. It also covers VPN usage.Her entertainment writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vulture, TV Guide, Time, Esquire, and The Daily Beast, among others. She specializes in writing about film and television. She previously worked in the Boston Globe's Living/Arts department.When she's not teaching people how to stream the best live sports and television, Lillian can be found distance running, watching the latest season of For All Mankind, or replaying The Last of Us Part II. on your PS4.