How to Get Cheap NBA Tickets Without Getting Burned
Practical tactics for saving money on NBA tickets — best nights to buy, which sections offer real value, how the playoff window changes pricing, and how to spot a scam on resale.
NBA ticket prices have climbed significantly over the last decade, especially in marquee markets (Lakers, Knicks, Warriors). But there are still reliable ways to see a game without paying sticker price. This is the no-fluff playbook for fans who want to attend more games without overspending.
Pick the right night
The biggest single lever on NBA pricing is opponent and night of the week. A Tuesday night against a tanking team is half the price of a Saturday against the Celtics or Warriors. If you just want to be in an NBA arena watching basketball, target weeknights against lottery-bound opponents. The cheapest window is January through early March — the post-holiday, pre-trade-deadline lull.
Buy late, not early — most of the time
NBA arenas range 17,000-19,500 capacity. Non-marquee games rarely sell out. Resale prices on the secondary market drop in the final 24-72 hours as resellers cut losses. If you are flexible on section, waiting until game day can cut your ticket cost by 30-60% compared to day-of-announcement pricing.
The tradeoff: inventory thins as the game approaches. Group tickets (4+) get harder to find together. If you are buying for a group of friends, lock in 1-2 weeks out.
Know the value sections
Every arena has a few underrated sections. For NBA games:
- Upper bowl center-court (typically 200-level center sections at most arenas, 300-level at LA Lakers / NY Knicks): Best view of play development at a fraction of the lower-bowl price. The basketball court is small enough that elevation matters more than proximity for actually watching the game.
- Baseline lower bowl (sections behind the basket): Cheaper than center-court lower bowl at most venues. View is angled but you are close to the action.
- Club-level side sections: Sometimes include in-seat service and lounge access at most arenas. The all-in cost (ticket + food/drinks) can be lower than centre-court + paying for everything separately.
Avoid the very back rows of upper bowl in older arenas — the overhang can cut off the scoreboard at MSG, Crypto Arena, and TD Garden specifically.
Use the primary market first
The team box office or the official Ticketmaster page is always the cheapest initial price. Team memberships, email lists, and half-season plans give you access to discounted tickets before the general public. If you go to 8+ games a year, a mini pack or flex plan beats single-game buying at almost every team.
For specific team purchasing, see the schedule page for any team in our system: /los-angeles/teams/lakers/schedule, /new-york/teams/knicks/schedule, /toronto/teams/raptors/schedule, /boston/teams/celtics/schedule.
Resale market rules
On resale, three things matter:
1. Total price including fees. Some sites show low face prices and add 25% in fees at checkout. Filter by all-in price. 2. Delivery method. Mobile transfer is safest. Avoid PDF tickets for NBA games — every major team has moved to mobile-only entry. 3. Seller rating. Stick to Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Resale, SeatGeek, or StubHub with their buyer-protection programs. If the price is dramatically below market, it is fake.
See how to spot fake concert tickets — the same rules apply to NBA games.
Student, youth and family deals
Most NBA teams offer student rush, youth pricing, or family 4-packs. These are not advertised prominently — check the team official ticket page and the arena group sales page. Some teams release a limited number of $20-40 upper-bowl seats on game day for students with valid ID.
Bundles and promos
Look for bundles with food vouchers, parking, or team-store credit. Bank partner promotions occasionally unlock presale access and discounts (Chase Sapphire for several US teams, RBC for the Raptors). For more on credit-card presale tactics, see the Ticketmaster presale guide.
Playoff pricing reality
Playoff tickets are almost never cheap. Round 1 home games for non-marquee matchups (8-seed vs 1-seed in the early rounds, sub-50-win matchups) sometimes have last-minute deals. Conference Finals and NBA Finals tickets are exclusively expensive — budget accordingly, buy as early as possible. The one reliable discount window is Game 1 of a series, before momentum and series narrative drive pricing higher.
For the Lakers / Celtics / Knicks / Warriors specifically, even regular-season Saturday games run premium pricing. Budget weeknight games against tanking teams to see those teams cheaply.
Bonus: getting into sold-out games
For games that sell out on the primary market, three reliable paths in: 1. Wait until day of. Season-ticket holders dump unused inventory in the final 24 hours. 2. Resale price drops 60-90 minutes before tip-off. Apps like Gametime see prices crash as the clock counts down. 3. Box office walk-up. Teams hold back a few seats for emergencies — show up 30 minutes before tip-off and ask politely.
Go to more games, pay less, and save the good seats for the rivalry nights that matter. For the NHL equivalent of this playbook, see how to get cheap NHL tickets.