How to Watch the 2020 NBA Finals Online From Anywhere

Although I live in Europe, I’ve been watching the NBA for over a decade — but it’s become more difficult as I moved to a country without access to the Finals. I searched the web to find a way to watch the NBA Finals online and was disappointed to find outdated or risky streams.

After doing in-depth research, I listed the best sports streaming services to watch the NBA Finals in 2020 so you don’t need to waste time checking if they work. Since they’re based in various countries, you’ll need a VPN to bypass regional restrictions. This helps by changing your online location to a different country, thereby tricking streaming services into thinking you’re there.

I’ve personally tested the top-rated VPNs on the market and found the best 3 for watching the 2020 NBA Finals from anywhere. You can take advantage of ExpressVPN’s super-responsive servers to get access to high-quality live streams with zero lag. To save on yet another subscription cost, you can try ExpressVPN for free for 30 days and get your money back with “no questions asked!”

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Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Watch the LA Lakers vs Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals From Anywhere

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Best Streaming Services for Watching the NBA Finals Online From Anywhere

The 2020 NBA Finals will be broadcast exclusively on ABC. Since you can watch the NBA Finals with several streaming services, I’ve listed my #1 pick and some extra choices to help you choose the right option for you.

NBA League Pass (Worldwide)

NBA League Pass is my top choice for watching the NBA Finals because you can choose from multiple pricing options globally. In the US, the League Pass is available annually for $39.99 without commercials or $28.99 with commercials. Plus, you can try it free for 7 days so you can see if the service is right for you before committing.

Although I initially read on some other review sites that the NBA League Pass won’t be broadcasting the Finals, I confirmed with the NBA support team that both the US and International passes can access the game from the archives 3 hours after it airs.

Alternative NBA Finals Broadcasters

Why You Need a VPN to Watch the NBA Finals: LA Lakers vs Miami Heat From Anywhere

Watching the NBA Finals in high-quality from outside the US can be impossible. When I tested the streaming platforms on this list from where I live in Central Europe, all pages either refused to load or blocked my access. Since the NBA is mainly licensed in the US, you’ll encounter these issues anywhere else.

It can be tempting to find a free unlicensed stream, but you’ll face many issues with them. These websites can host malware and endless irritating ads, putting your devices at risk and causing interruptions while you’re trying to catch the Finals. Since these streams are hosted illegally, they often get taken down mid-game and you might miss the crucial game-winning play of the season.

With a VPN, you can watch the 2020 NBA Finals from anywhere in the world. A VPN tricks an official streaming service into believing you’re located in a different country, so you can buy a subscription and watch the Finals from anywhere.

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3 Best VPNs to Watch the LA Lakers and Miami Heat Play in the NBA Finals

1. ExpressVPN — The Best VPN to Watch the NBA Finals With Zero Lag

Key Features:

ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for watching the NBA Finals online from anywhere for its lag-free servers that provide you with consistent access to sports streaming services. I was able to get high-quality streams from all of the NBA Finals broadcasters including the NBA League Pass, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV.

You can choose from a wide range of global servers with ExpressVPN’s extensive network to get quick access to all countries where you can stream the NBA Finals. There are also 14 US cities that you can choose from to get consistent access to the best US-based sports providers. On your desktop or mobile devices, you can simply search for a location or choose it from the list to get connected. During my tests, I connected to all servers in under 6 seconds — it took just 2 seconds with servers closest to me!

I was happy that ExpressVPN’s high-bandwidth servers provide extremely fast download speeds without interrupting your other online activity. I reached 137Mbps with nearby servers and even 126Mbps with New York servers 13,000 km+ away from me! Due to these extremely high speeds, I didn’t have to adjust my online activity. Even while streaming NBA games, I could browse and download large files without my viewing experience being affected by lag.

You’re able to watch the 2020 NBA Finals on up to 5 devices at once with ExpressVPN so you can share your subscription with your family or friends. With this feature, you can all either watch, browse, or download securely without interruption.

You can try ExpressVPN to watch the NBA Finals for free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. To verify this policy, I signed up for a 1-month subscription before contacting an agent through the 24/7 live chat. I was impressed that ExpressVPN offers its refund policy with no questions asked (unlike most other VPNs on the market). The agent immediately approved my request and the whole process took around 3 minutes. I had the money back in my account 5 days later!

Watch the NBA Finals with ExpressVPN

2. NordVPN — The Fastest VPN to Watch the NBA Finals in High Quality

Key Features:

NordVPN is a top pick for watching the 2020 NBA Finals thanks to its lightning-fast servers that allow you to access high-definition sports streams. While I was testing NordVPN, the slowest speeds I reached were 171Mbps with a faraway US server and 184Mbp with a nearby German server. This is more than enough bandwidth for you to stream, browse, and download files without interruption. When I tested this by watching a replay of the ‘94 Rockets vs Knicks while downloading a 5GB file, there was zero delay or buffering.

Since NordVPN connects to its servers so quickly, you won’t have to waste any time and can get straight into watching the Finals. I tested multiple server locations — the US, UK, and Germany connected in 5 seconds or less, while Canada took a little longer at 9 seconds. Anything better than 10 seconds is extremely fast, so I never felt frustrated waiting for a connection.

I’m a big fan of NordVPN’s built-in SmartPlay technology that unblocks numerous streaming services, including the NBA League Pass, Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. It gives you access to a frequently updated pool of IP and DNS addresses (unique IDs that can be used to geolocate you). When you connect to a server and are given one of these new temporary addresses, you appear in a different location and can trick streaming services into giving you access.

You can check out NordVPN’s fast streaming servers for free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I tested this policy myself — I signed up for a month subscription and then connected with an agent through the live chat. They asked if there was anything they could do to get me to stay (unlike ExpressVPN’s no questions asked policy), but didn’t push the matter when I confirmed I just wanted a refund. The money was back in my account a week later.

Watch the NBA Finals with NordVPN

3. CyberGhost — Optimized Streaming Servers to Watch the NBA Finals From Anywhere

Key Features:

CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers are optimized for the best quality and consistent access to sports streams to watch the NBA Finals. You can watch with optimized servers for Sling TV, Hulu, YouTube TV, and ESPN. This lets you easily access the 2020 NBA Finals live streams in the best quality, so you don’t miss a single dribble, pass, or basket. Although you can also use CyberGhost’s regular VPN servers for streaming content, they aren’t optimized for specific platforms so there’s a higher chance of encountering issues (though I’ve rarely had any myself).

I was happy with the speeds I received with CyberGhost — a minimum of 151Mbps from distant New York and 168Mbps from London closer to me. If you enjoy browsing or video chatting while watching the game, these speeds are ideal for a stable connection while multitasking.

CyberGhost is known for its generous number of simultaneous device connections — you can connect up to 7 at once and catch every basket with any device! I connected 2 PCs, a Fire Stick 4K, an Android phone, a MacBook, and an iPad with no change to my speeds or connection quality.

You can try CyberGhost for free for 45 days with its money-back guarantee. This gives you plenty of time to test CyberGhost’s optimized sports streaming servers. I tested the refund policy myself by signing up for a month and contacting customer support through the 24/7 live chat a few weeks later. The agent tried to convince me to stay by offering technical support but I just told them I wasn’t interested. They approved the refund right away and I had the money back in my account just 3 days later!

Watch the NBA Finals with CyberGhost

The Downsides to Free VPNs (And Why You Shouldn’t Use One to Watch the NBA Finals)

After doing in-depth testing of the best free VPNs available, I can’t recommend any for watching the NBA Finals due to technical and security concerns. Many free providers:

You can avoid these issues by getting a quality premium VPN with a proven money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN’s lightning-fast servers and huge network makes it the perfect choice for watching the NBA Finals from anywhere. You can try it for free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee — even better, it’s no questions asked!

Try ExpressVPN for free for 30 days

FAQs: The 2020 NBA Finals

🤑 Can I get a better deal on an NBA Finals streaming subscription with a VPN?

Yes, you can save on a subscription plan by using a VPN to connect to a country with lower prices for your chosen streaming platform. I tested 15 countries before I found a better deal with a server in India compared to my usual UK server — this saved me almost 80% on an NBA League Pass! I recommend ExpressVPN’s thousands of global servers to take advantage of the lower prices to watch the Finals.

Watch the NBA Finals with ExpressVPN

🙃 Do I need a cable subscription to watch the 2020 NBA Finals from anywhere?

No, you can easily watch the NBA Finals without a cable subscription. All you need is to sign up for one of the streaming services offering ABC live streams, such as:

• The NBA League Pass
• fuboTV
• Hulu + Live TV
• Sling TV (via ESPN3)
• YouTube TV

😅 What should I do if I need a local payment method to subscribe to a streaming service?

Since several of these services are located in the US or Canada, you may need a local card or PayPal account to subscribe. You can visit MyGiftCardSupply.com and buy a gift card for a relevant service (such as Sling TV and Hulu).

Not all services verify where your payment method is from, but may instead ask you for a zip code. You can simply Google “X country ZIP code” and you’ll be shown several options — I’ve successfully used 92344, 10021, and 75011 for the US in the past.

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Dribble Right Past Regional Blocks and Watch the NBA Finals From Anywhere!

The 2020 NBA season has been a wild ride from start to finish and I can’t wait to see who this year’s champions will be. The LA Lakers are a strong matchup for the Miami Heat, so I’m looking forward to a series of high-intensity games. It’s important for you to have a VPN that’s optimized for speed and reliability so you don’t miss a single juke, jam, or jump shot.

With its highly-responsive servers and large network, ExpressVPN is my top pick for watching the 2020 NBA Finals. It’s my go-to VPN for streaming live sports events from around the world. Even better, you can also use it to watch many other sporting events including the NFL, NHL, and Premier League.

Check it out for yourself for free for 30 days and watch all the games you want risk-free before making use of the “no questions asked” refund policy!

Watch the NBA Finals with ExpressVPN!