Getty LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors are set to square off again in the playoffs.
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday, May 2.
The game (10 p.m. ET start time) will be televised on TNT, but if you don’t have cable, you can watch a live stream on DirecTV Stream, which includes TNT and comes with a free trial.
That’s the best live stream option if you’re cutting cable, but there are also some other alternatives, so here’s a full guide on the different ways you can watch a live stream of the Lakers vs Warriors online:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” TNT is included in every one, and you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Lakers vs Warriors live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of TNT and 40-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” or “Sling Blue” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with TNT, and you can get your first month for half off:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the Lakers vs Warriors live on the Sling TV app or Sling TV website.
Compatible devices for the Sling TV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of TNT and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+ at no added cost:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the Lakers vs Warriors live on the Hulu app or Hulu website.
Compatible devices for the Hulu app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Lakers vs Warriors Game 1 Preview
The Lakers took out the Memphis Grizzlies in six games in Round 1 of the playoffs, winning Game 6 in dominant fashion, 125-85.
On the other side, Golden State took out the Sacramento Kings in seven games, coming back to win the series after losing the first two games on the road. Things won’t get any easier for Curry and company.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said about playing L.A. “I think the Lakers changed their team dramatically at the trade deadline. They made some brilliant moves and became an entirely different team. Darvin [Ham] has done an incredible job guiding that team. They’re excellent defensively. We they’ve got one of the all-time greats in LeBron. But a lot of talent across the roster. So it’s going to take a big effort to beat them and we know how good they are.”
Curry averaged 33.7 points in the Warriors’ series against the Kings, scoring an NBA record 50 points in Game 7. Jarred Vanderbilt, Austin Reaves and Dennis Schröder will be tasked with slowing Curry down, and it won’t be an easy one.
Another key matchup will be between the big men: Lakers’ Anthony Davis against Warriors center Kevon Looney. The Dubs big man had rebound totals of 13, 14, 20, 21 and 22 in five games against the Kings. Looney was a virtual rebound machine in the first round, and if he continues to haul in boards like nobody’s business, the Lakers could be in big trouble.
Still, all eyes will be on James and Curry, and for good reason. James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists this past season, while Curry netted 29.4 points, 6.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game.
“It’s the best rivalry of this generation,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “LeBron, what he was able to do, [going] to [eight] straight Finals and obviously Steph and those guys, what they were able to do with those four championships. That’s the rivalry. Rivalry of the generations, particularly those two players.”
The Lakers went 3–1 against the Warriors this season, with the results as follows:
- Oct. 18, 2022: Warriors 123, Lakers 109
- Feb. 11, 2023: Lakers 109, Warriors 103
- Feb. 23, 2023: Lakers 124, Warriors 111
- March 5, 2023: Lakers 113, Warriors 105
These two teams last met in the postseason in May of 2021, when the Lakers defeated the Warriors 103-100 in the Western Conference Play-In game.