Technologies
NBA Play-In and Playoffs 2023: How to Watch, Stream Wednesday’s Games Without Cable
The NBA postseason tournament continues tonight on ESPN with two more play-in games.
The NBA postseason has begun. The play-in tournament got underway last night with teams looking to lock up a seventh seed in each conference. In the first play-in game, the Hawks beat the Heat and will now face the No. 2 seed Celtics in the Eastern Conference first round. There was more drama in the second game, with LeBron James leading the Lakers past the Timberwolves in overtime. The Lakers will now head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies in the Western Conference first round.
The play-in games continue tonight. First up are the Bulls and Raptors. The winner will take on the Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. In the night cap, the Thunder and Pelicans play for the chance to face the Timberwolves for the eighth seed in the West.
The NBA playoffs are off to a great start and should only get more exciting as they progress. Here’s everything you need to know about watching and streaming the NBA postseason with or without cable.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the New Orleans Pelicans tonight on ESPN.
Alex Goodlett/Getty ImagesWhat is the schedule for the play-in games?
The play-in game schedule is as follows (all times ET):
Wednesday, April 12:
- Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. on ESPN
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
Friday, April 14:
- Bulls/Raptors winner vs. Heat, 7 p.m. on TNT
- Thunder/Pelicans winner vs. Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
When do the NBA Playoffs start?
The NBA playoffs start on Saturday, April 15.
The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 1. Game seven of the Finals, if necessary, will take place on Sunday, June 18.
What does the NBA playoff bracket look like?
What channels will broadcast playoff games?
The play-in games will air on TNT and ESPN. The NBA playoffs will air on TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV.
This year TNT will have the Eastern Conference finals, while ESPN will take the lead on the Western Conference finals. The NBA Finals will air on ABC.
Best options for streaming the NBA playoffs
As all the games will be shown nationally, most of the major streaming TV services offer all the networks you’ll need for watching the NBA playoffs. That said, it can be a bit complicated.
Sling TV’s Orange plan includes ESPN and TNT. NBA TV is available as part of the Sports Extra add-on, which costs $11 a month. ABC, however, is only available in eight markets (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Fresno, Houston and Raleigh) and requires the Orange and Blue combo plan if you want ESPN too. That combo plan costs $65 per month in all of those cities except Fresno, Houston and Raleigh, where it costs $60.
Hulu Plus Live TV costs $70 a month and ESPN, ABC and TNT, but not NBA TV. Click the «View all channels in your area» link at the bottom of its welcome page to see which local networks are available where you live.
YouTube TV costs $73 a month and offers all the main basketball channels for the NBA playoffs, including NBA TV. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.
FuboTV costs $75 per month for its Pro option and ABC, ESPN and NBA TV but not TNT. Check out which local networks it offers here.
DirecTV Stream is expensive. It’s the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services. Its cheapest, $65-a-month Entertainment package includes ESPN, ABC, and TNT. You’ll need to move up to the $85-a-month Choice plan to get NBA TV. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels and RSNs are available in your area.
It is worth noting that DirecTV has an additional $15 «advanced receiver service» fee that automatically applies and is extra from the sticker price, which makes the Entertainment package $80 per month and the Choice option $100 per month.
Each live TV streaming service offers a free trial, allows you to cancel anytime and requires a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
Technologies
Verum Messenger Turns Five and Launches Offline Messaging on iPhone
Verum Messenger Turns Five and Launches Offline Messaging on iPhone
Verum Messenger has marked its fifth anniversary with the release of a new feature that enables users to exchange messages without an internet connection.
The update, now available on iPhone, allows devices to communicate directly through a decentralized peer-to-peer architecture, bypassing servers, mobile networks and Wi-Fi. According to the company, messages are transmitted securely without relying on traditional internet infrastructure.
Unlike most offline communication tools that depend on Bluetooth, Verum’s approach uses encrypted device-to-device technology designed to operate independently of centralized systems.
Founded five years ago, Verum Messenger is positioned as a privacy-first platform. The app does not require a phone number or email address for registration and generates encryption keys locally on the user’s device. The company states that user data and message content are not stored on centralized servers.
Over time, Verum has expanded beyond messaging to include features such as encrypted calls, screenshot and screen-recording protection, self-destructing messages, anonymous email, a built-in VPN, eSIM connectivity and on-device AI tools.
The offline messaging update reflects a broader push toward more resilient communication tools, particularly as concerns over network reliability, censorship and digital surveillance continue to grow.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, Feb. 2
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 2
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? There are some tough clues today. Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Rock band with albums like «High Voltage» and «Flick of the Switch»
Answer: ACDC
5A clue: Stuck doing the same old, same old
Answer: INARUT
7A clue: Burning up
Answer: ONFIRE
8A clue: -tion, for one
Answer: SUFFIX
9A clue: Jared of 2025’s «Tron: Ares»
Answer: LETO
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Declare void, as a marriage
Answer: ANNUL
2D clue: ___ macchiato (espresso drink)
Answer: CAFFE
3D clue: Begin to veer off the road, say
Answer: DRIFT
4D clue: Odd little trinket
Answer: CURIO
5D clue: What Apple smartphones run on
Answer: IOS
6D clue: ___-Mex cuisine
Answer: TEX
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Feb. 2, #497
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 2, No. 497.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. It helps to know a lot about two distinct locations and their sports teams. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Lone Star State.
Green group hint: Think of the Arch.
Blue group hint: You put cereal in this.
Purple group hint: Not four or six.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Texas college teams.
Green group: St. Louis teams.
Blue group: Can be followed by «bowl.»
Purple group: ____ five.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is Texas college teams. The four answers are Aggies, Cougars, Horned Frogs and Longhorns.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is St. Louis teams. The four answers are Billikens, Vlues, Cardinals and St. Louis City.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is can be followed by «bowl.» The four answers are pro, senior, shrine and super.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ five. The four answers are fab, fierce, high and starting.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
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