Two Ohio-Michigan rivals will renew their basketball rivalry when the Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Tuesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. ET. The series arrives with genuine drama already attached: Detroit clawed back from a 3-1 deficit against Orlando in Round 1, while Cleveland needed a full seven-game series to eliminate Toronto. Fans watching at home will need a Peacock subscription to catch Game 1, as the broadcast is a streaming exclusive under the NBA's new rights arrangement with NBC.
How and Where to Watch the Series
Game 1 airs exclusively on Peacock and NBC Sports Network on Tuesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Game 2 follows on Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video - another streaming exclusive. Games 3 and 4 shift to Cleveland, airing on Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m. ET and Monday, May 11 at 8 p.m. ET, both on NBC and Peacock. Games 5 through 7, if needed, remain TBA in both timing and broadcast assignment.
- Game 1 - May 5: 7 p.m. ET | Peacock, NBC Sports Network | Cavaliers at Pistons
- Game 2 - May 7: 7 p.m. ET | Prime Video | Cavaliers at Pistons
- Game 3 - May 9: 3 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock | Pistons at Cavaliers
- Game 4 - May 11: 8 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock | Pistons at Cavaliers
- Games 5-7 - May 13, 15, 17: Times and outlets TBA (if necessary)
Why Peacock Is Now Central to NBA Playoff Viewing
For the first time in the NBA's broadcast history, Peacock is carrying streaming-exclusive playoff contests as part of NBC's new rights deal with the league. This means no cable workaround, no free over-the-air option, and no alternative stream for Game 1 - a Peacock subscription is the only path to watching. The platform's Premium plan, priced at $11 per month, unlocks the game alongside a full month of content that spans NFL coverage, English Premier League fixtures, Olympic programming, and NBC's broader entertainment library. The two highest subscription tiers on Peacock both provide full access, so prospective subscribers have some flexibility in choosing a plan.
This shift reflects a broader structural change in how major American sports rights are being packaged and sold. Streaming platforms have steadily absorbed live rights that once lived exclusively on broadcast or cable, and the NBA's arrangement with NBC - which returned to carrying the sport after a long absence - accelerates that transition. Viewers who rely on traditional cable without a Peacock subscription will find themselves locked out of select postseason contests for the first time under this framework.
Watching From Outside the United States
For viewers traveling internationally or living abroad, a VPN offers a practical solution. By routing your connection through a server in the United States, a VPN allows Peacock to recognize your location as domestic - making your subscription functional regardless of where you physically are. This approach works across phones, tablets, and computers. One important caveat: a VPN does not replace the need for an active Peacock subscription. It only removes the geographic barrier; the subscription itself remains a requirement. Reputable VPN services also provide an added layer of privacy and encryption while streaming, which carries general utility beyond just accessing geo-restricted content.
