The Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished the 2025-26 NBA regular season with the best record in the Western Conference, will host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers beginning Tuesday, May 5, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, enter the second round after a first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns, while the fourth-seeded Lakers advanced past the Houston Rockets in six games. The series represents one of the most anticipated second-round matchups of the postseason.
Full Series Schedule and Broadcast Information
The series is spread across NBC, Prime Video, ABC, and ESPN Unlimited, reflecting the NBA's increasingly fragmented broadcast landscape. Here is the confirmed schedule for all seven possible contests:
- Game 1 - Tuesday, May 5: Lakers at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET - NBC, Peacock
- Game 2 - Thursday, May 7: Lakers at Thunder, 9:30 p.m. ET - Prime Video
- Game 3 - Saturday, May 9: Thunder at Lakers, 8:30 p.m. ET - ABC, ESPN Unlimited
- Game 4 - Monday, May 11: Thunder at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET - Prime Video
- Game 5 - Wednesday, May 13 (if necessary): Lakers at Thunder - TBA
- Game 6 - Saturday, May 16 (if necessary): Thunder at Lakers - TBA
- Game 7 - Monday, May 18 (if necessary): Lakers at Thunder - TBA
Games 1 and 3 air on traditional broadcast networks - NBC and ABC respectively - meaning they are accessible to viewers without a cable or streaming subscription in most markets. Games 2 and 4, however, are exclusive to Prime Video, which requires an Amazon Prime membership to access. This split across multiple platforms is now standard for NBA postseason coverage and makes having a single live TV streaming service increasingly valuable for viewers who want uninterrupted access to the full series.
How to Stream Every Game Without a Cable Subscription
For viewers who have cut the cord, live TV streaming services remain the most reliable way to access the full breadth of postseason coverage. DIRECTV stands out as the most channel-rich option currently available. Its MySports Pack, priced at $65 per month, includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNNEWS, ESPNU, ABC, NBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, NBA TV, and a wide range of additional networks, along with a complimentary ESPN Unlimited subscription. New subscribers receive a five-day free trial, which covers the opening days of this series. For viewers who also want access to local regional sports networks, DIRECTV's MyHome Team add-on is available for an additional $20 per month.
Fubo is another option, though its trial structure is less transparent. The trial period varies depending on undisclosed factors and runs anywhere from one to seven days, which makes it harder to plan around specific viewing windows. Viewers should confirm trial length at the point of sign-up before committing to the service.
Because Games 1 and 2 air on NBC and are streamed on Peacock, a standalone Peacock Premium subscription also provides access to those specific broadcasts. Peacock Premium is priced at $11 per month, while Premium Plus - which includes additional features and local NBC access across all 210 markets - runs $17 per month. This is the lowest-cost entry point for viewers who only need coverage of the NBC-broadcast games in the series.
Watching From Outside Your Home Market
Viewers traveling internationally or outside their usual viewing area may find that geo-restrictions prevent access to their subscribed services. A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, resolves this by routing a device's connection through a server located in the subscriber's home country, effectively restoring access to content that would otherwise be blocked abroad. A VPN does not replace a streaming subscription - it works alongside one.
ExpressVPN is widely regarded as the most reliable option for this purpose, with servers across 105 countries, strong encryption standards, and around-the-clock customer support. It currently starts at approximately $5 per month and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. For those prioritizing cost, Surfshark starts at $2.50 per month. NordVPN, starting at $3.09 per month, is considered the strongest option in terms of security architecture. Proton VPN offers a functional free tier for viewers who need only occasional use.
