NBA schedules Finals opener June 3 on ABC

The NBA has set June 3 for the start of the 2026 NBA Finals, with ABC carrying Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, according to the league’s updated playoff schedule. The league posted the full Finals calendar this week as the conference finals narrowed the field to four teams. New York and Cleveland remain alive in the East, while Oklahoma City and San Antonio are still playing in the West. The schedule gives the remaining teams a fixed target date even though neither conference champion has been decided yet. ### When does the Finals actually start? June 3 is the opener for the 2026 NBA Finals, and the league lists ABC as the exclusive broadcaster for the series. NBA.com’s Finals page shows Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3, followed by Game 2 on June 5, Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10, all at 8:30 p.m. ET. Games 5 through 7 are scheduled for June 13, June 16 and June 19 if necessary. (nba.com) May 21 was the date on the NBA’s updated playoff schedule page when the league said the postseason calendar would continue to be updated as scheduling is officially announced. The same page places the Finals start date alongside the still-active conference finals matchups. ### Which teams are still in the race? (nba.com) The New York Knicks lead the Eastern Conference finals 2-0 over the Cleveland Cavaliers. NBA.com’s schedule page lists New York’s 115-104 overtime win in Game 1 and a 109-93 win in Game 2. The Western Conference finals are tied 1-1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. (nba.com) NBA.com lists San Antonio’s 122-115 double-overtime win in Game 1 and Oklahoma City’s 122-113 win in Game 2. ESPN’s playoff tracker also says the Finals begin June 3 on ABC and describes the postseason as down to the final four teams. (nba.com) ### What games come before the Finals opener? Friday, May 22 is the date for Game 3 between Oklahoma City and San Antonio, with tipoff set for 8:30 p.m. (nba.com) ET on NBC and Peacock, according to NBA.com. Game 4 in that series is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET. Saturday, May 23 is the date for Game 3 between New York and Cleveland, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. (espn.com) ET on ESPN. Game 4 in the East is scheduled for Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET, and Games 5 through 7 are listed if necessary through May 31. The NBA bracket page also shows the Finals placeholder on June 3 at 5:30 p.m. (nba.com) Pacific time on ABC, matching the 8:30 p.m. ET start time on the league’s schedule pages. ### Why did the league publish the Finals dates before the matchup was set? The NBA routinely publishes the Finals window before conference champions are decided, and the 2026 playoff schedule page says it will be updated each time postseason scheduling is officially announced. (nba.com) That gives networks, arenas and teams a fixed calendar while the conference finals continue. (nba.com) June 19 is the latest possible date on the current calendar, with Game 7 scheduled for that Friday if the series goes the distance. Before that, the next elimination path runs through the conference finals, where the Knicks can extend their lead on May 23 and either the Thunder or Spurs can move ahead on May 22. (nba.com)