So, the Dubs are playing. You’re ready to see Steph Curry hit a contested three from the logo, but you’re staring at a blank screen or a "content not available in your area" message. It’s annoying. Honestly, figuring out how do i watch the warriors game has become a bit of a localized nightmare thanks to the mess of regional sports networks (RSNs) and national broadcast deals.
You just want the game. I get it.
The reality is that watching the Golden State Warriors in 2026 depends entirely on where your feet are planted. If you are sitting in a recliner in San Francisco, your options are wildly different than if you’re tuning in from a coffee shop in Brooklyn or a flat in London. It’s about geography.
The Local Lockdown: NBC Sports Bay Area
If you live in Northern California, the primary answer to how do i watch the warriors game is NBC Sports Bay Area. This is the "home" station. They carry the vast majority of regular-season games. But here’s the kicker: if you’ve cut the cord, you can’t just buy a standalone app for NBC Sports Bay Area yet—at least not in the way people want.
You need a "skinny bundle."
YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are the heavy hitters here. They both carry NBC Sports Bay Area. FuboTV is another solid choice, especially if you’re a sports degenerate who wants international soccer too. DirectTV Stream is the priciest of the bunch, but it’s often the most reliable for keeping those specific RSNs when other services get into contract disputes. Don’t expect a cheap $10-a-month fix here; you’re looking at $75 or more.
It’s steep. I know.
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But if you are in-market, these are basically your only legal paths unless you want to find a friendly neighborhood bar with a satellite dish. If you try to use NBA League Pass while living in Oakland, the game will be blacked out. They use your IP address to sniff you out. It’s frustrating, but it’s how the TV contracts are written to protect the local broadcasters.
National TV and the ABC/ESPN/TNT Rotation
Then there are the "big" games. The ones where the Warriors are playing the Lakers or the Celtics on a Thursday night.
When the game is on TNT, ESPN, or ABC, the local rules sometimes shift. For national exclusives, NBC Sports Bay Area won’t have the feed. You’ll need a service that carries these national channels. Most of the streaming bundles I mentioned above cover these, but Sling TV is a cheaper "hack" if you only care about TNT and ESPN. Just keep in mind that Sling Blue gives you TNT, while Sling Orange gives you ESPN. It’s a confusing split that feels like it was designed by a committee of people who hate simplicity.
The Out-of-Network Solution: NBA League Pass
Now, if you live in Chicago or Miami or basically anywhere that isn't the Bay Area, things actually get easier. You just buy NBA League Pass.
League Pass is the gold standard for the displaced fan. You can watch almost every Warriors game live. The "Team Pass" option is slightly cheaper if you literally only care about the Dubs and couldn't care less what the Charlotte Hornets are doing.
Wait. There is a catch.
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National blackouts still apply. If the Warriors are playing on ESPN or TNT, League Pass won't show it live. You’ll have to wait until the "archive" version is uploaded, usually a few hours after the final buzzer. It's a game of cat and mouse. You spend half the season on League Pass and the other half hoping your friend gives you their cable login for the national broadcasts.
What About Free Options?
People always ask me about "free" ways to watch. Aside from the rare games on ABC that you can catch with a $20 digital antenna from Amazon, there isn't a legal, free way to stream the games.
Sure, you can go down the rabbit hole of "shady" streaming sites. You know the ones—the ones with sixteen pop-ups claiming your computer has a virus and three different "close" buttons that are actually links to gambling sites. I don't recommend them. The quality is usually 480p at best, the lag is thirty seconds behind Twitter (X), and you'll spend more time refreshing the page than watching Draymond Green play defense.
How Do I Watch the Warriors Game on My Phone?
Streaming on the go is actually pretty seamless now. If you have a subscription to YouTube TV or Hulu, you just use their respective apps. If you have a cable login from a provider like Xfinity or AT&T, you can use the NBC Sports app or the NBA app.
The NBA app has actually gotten quite good. They’ve integrated "Watch Parties" and different camera angles. Sometimes they even have "BetStream" layouts if you're into the gambling side of things. Just make sure you're on Wi-Fi. A high-def NBA game will eat through a standard data plan faster than Steph finishes a warm-up routine.
Dealing with Blackouts and VPNs
This is a grey area. A lot of fans use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to make it look like they are in a different country or city.
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For example, some fans use a VPN to set their location to a country where NBA League Pass doesn't have blackout restrictions. Then they buy the "International" version of League Pass. It’s a bit of a technical hurdle. You need a VPN that is fast enough to stream 1080p video without buffering, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
Is it against the Terms of Service? Usually. Does it work? Often. But the NBA is constantly getting better at blocking known VPN IP addresses, so it’s a bit of a "buyer beware" situation. If the NBA detects you're on a VPN, they might just give you an error code until you turn it off.
Audio is the Underrated Backup
If you're stuck in traffic or working late, don't sleep on the radio broadcast. Tim Roye is a legend.
You can listen to the Warriors flagship station, 95.7 The Game, for free if you’re in the local area. If you’re outside the area, the Audacy app usually carries it, though sometimes sports broadcasts are geofenced there too. The NBA app offers a "League Pass Audio" subscription that is dirt cheap—usually around $10 for the whole season—and it has zero blackouts. It’s the most reliable way to follow the team without spending a fortune.
Summary of Your Best Moves
The "best" way is entirely personal.
If you have the money and live in SF, get YouTube TV. It’s the cleanest interface and has the best DVR. If you’re a student or on a budget, look into the Sling Orange/Blue split, but check the schedule first to see which channels have the most games that month. If you're a die-hard living in another state, League Pass is a no-brainer.
Stop searching for "free streams" and wasting your night. Pick a platform, check the regional map, and get the game on.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Schedule: Go to the official Warriors website or the NBA app. Look at the "National TV" column. If the game is on ABC, go buy a digital antenna today. It's a one-time $20 investment for free HD sports forever.
- Verify Your Region: Open a browser and search "What is my IP location." If it says you are in the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose footprint, ignore League Pass for live games. You need NBC Sports Bay Area.
- Start a Trial: Most streaming services like Fubo or YouTube TV offer a 7-day free trial. If there’s a massive game tonight, sign up for the trial ten minutes before tip-off, watch the game, and then decide if the $75 a month is worth it for the rest of the season.
- Download the Apps: Even if you aren't paying for a sub yet, have the NBA app and your service provider's app (like NBC Sports) downloaded and updated. There’s nothing worse than missing the first quarter because of a "Mandatory Update."