The Memphis Grizzlies are preparing to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a high-stakes Game 2 that will either tie the series at one game apiece, or enable the Timberwolves to go up 2-0.
However, there are likely hundreds of thousands of fans (maybe more) who are unable to watch Game 2 because the game is blacked out in a dozen media markets in the Mid-South.
While the game is being advertised nationally as being on NBATV, fans who want to watch the game that live in the Mid-South will have the game blacked out on NBATV— meaning they aren’t allowed to watch it.
This is because the game is being offered on a Regional Sports Network (RSN), a premium channel that customers must pay an extra fee to have in their channel lineup. It’s sort of like having to pay extra to have HBO or Showtime in your channel lineup.
How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game 2
If you live in the Mid-South and you’ve cut the cord (in favor of YouTube TV, for example), or only have the basic package of channels from your cable/satellite provider, it will be impossible for you to watch Game 2 of the Grizzlies vs Timberwolves.
Even if you pay for the ultra-premium NBA League Pass, you’ll still be out of luck. There is no amount of money that will allow you to watch Game 2 if you don’t have Bally Sports.
So, how and who can watch Game 2?
For starters, you have to be a paying customer of Comcast, AT&T U-verse, Spectrum, or DirecTV AND you must pay for an upgraded channel package that includes Bally Sports Southeast (a RSN that carries the Grizzlies).
If that sounds like you, then congratulations, you meet the minimum requirements to be able to have the privilege of watching this game on television— you can watch Game 2!
However, if you do not pay for the upgraded channel package that includes Bally Sports, you are unfortunately out of luck. This, despite the game airing nationally on NBATV.
There are 12 different media markets in the Mid-South that are impacted by the Grizzlies game being shown on NBATV and Bally Sports instead of on basic cable. Those areas are:
- Birmingham, Ala. (45)
- Huntsville, Ala. (79)
- Little Rock, Ark. (59)
- Jonesboro, Ark. (182)
- Paducah, Ky. (84)
- Chattanooga, Tenn. (88)
- Jackson, Tenn. (175)
- Knoxville, Tenn. (62)
- Memphis, Tenn. (51)
- Nashville, Tenn. (29)
- Tupelo, Miss. (133)
- Jackson, Miss. (97)
*2021 Nielsen DMA Rankings in parentheses (ranking out of 210 areas)
If you live in one of the above areas and do not pay extra money to your TV provider for Bally Sports, you won’t be able to watch Game 2 anywhere— not even NBATV.
You can check your zip code here to see if you’ll be blacked out from watching Game 2 of the playoff series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves.