The Oklahoma City Thunder, holders of the Western Conference's top seed after posting the best record in the NBA's 2025-26 regular season, will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, May 5, at Paycom Center to open their second-round playoff series. The Lakers, entering as the West's fourth seed, dispatched the Houston Rockets in six games to advance. The series pits two of the conference's most closely watched franchises against each other, with Games 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City before the action shifts to Los Angeles.
Full Series Schedule and Broadcast Information
The series is distributed across multiple platforms, reflecting the increasingly fragmented landscape of live broadcast rights. NBC and Peacock share Game 1 on Tuesday, May 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Game 2 moves exclusively to Prime Video on Thursday, May 7, at 9:30 p.m. ET. The series then relocates to Los Angeles, with Game 3 airing on ABC and ESPN Unlimited on Saturday, May 9, at 8:30 p.m. ET, and Game 4 on Prime Video on Monday, May 11, at 10:30 p.m. ET. Games 5 through 7, if required, remain unscheduled with broadcasters and tip times to be announced.
- Game 1 - Tue, May 5 | 8:30 p.m. ET: Lakers at Thunder | NBC, Peacock
- Game 2 - Thu, May 7 | 9:30 p.m. ET: Lakers at Thunder | Prime Video
- Game 3 - Sat, May 9 | 8:30 p.m. ET: Thunder at Lakers | ABC, ESPN Unlimited
- Game 4 - Mon, May 11 | 10:30 p.m. ET: Thunder at Lakers | Prime Video
- Game 5 - Wed, May 13 (if necessary): Lakers at Thunder | TBA
- Game 6 - Sat, May 16 (if necessary): Thunder at Lakers | TBA
- Game 7 - Mon, May 18 (if necessary): Lakers at Thunder | TBA
How to Stream Every Game Without a Cable Subscription
For viewers without a traditional cable package, live TV streaming services offer the most practical path to every broadcast. DIRECTV stands out as the broadest option among competitors, carrying more of cable's top 35 channels than any rival platform. Its MySports Pack, priced at $65 per month, includes ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC (market-dependent), ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FS1, TBS, TNT, USA Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, MLB Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, ACC Network, and Golf Channel, among others. The plan also bundles a free ESPN Unlimited subscription. A five-day free trial is available to all new subscribers, providing a no-cost window to evaluate the full offering. For viewers who want local regional sports networks, an additional MyHome Team add-on is available for $20 per month.
Fubo represents another live TV streaming option, though its trial terms are less straightforward. The length of any free trial period Fubo extends varies based on undisclosed criteria, ranging from a single day to as many as seven - a point of friction that potential subscribers should factor into their decision.
Streaming Game 1 Directly Through Peacock
Because Game 1 airs on NBC, it is also accessible through Peacock, NBCUniversal's subscription streaming platform. Peacock Premium, which carries NBC broadcasts including live events, is priced at $11 per month. Peacock Premium Plus, which adds the ability to stream a local NBC feed in all 210 television markets and removes certain interruptions, runs $17 per month. Beyond this series, Peacock's live programming portfolio includes NFL, MLB, Premier League, NASCAR, French Open coverage, and collegiate events, making either tier a defensible standalone subscription for regular viewers of live programming.
Watching From Outside Your Home Market With a VPN
Viewers traveling outside their home market during the series can maintain access to their existing streaming subscriptions by using a Virtual Private Network. A VPN routes a device's internet connection through a server in a selected location, effectively presenting the user as accessing content from their registered home region. This is particularly relevant for subscribers to geographically restricted streaming services. A VPN does not replace a streaming subscription - access to the actual broadcast still requires an active account with one of the platforms listed above.
ExpressVPN, currently available from $5 per month, offers servers across 105 countries and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a low-risk entry point. For viewers prioritizing cost or security above all else, three additional options are worth considering:
- Most Secure: NordVPN | From $3.09 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | From $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available
