NBA Finals start June 3 on ABC

The NBA’s 2026 Finals are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 3, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster, according to the league’s official Finals schedule page. ESPN’s playoff schedule page also lists June 3 as the start of the championship series. With the bracket down to four teams, the remaining field is New York and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals and Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the Western Conference finals. ### Which teams are still alive with the Finals date now set? The NBA’s playoff schedule page lists New York versus Cleveland in the East and Oklahoma City versus San Antonio in the West as the conference finals matchups. Those two series will decide the Finals participants in a best-of-seven championship round that opens on June 3. ESPN’s playoff coverage identifies the same four-team field. (nba.com) ### What has the league actually announced about the Finals calendar? NBA.com says the 2026 Finals will tip off on June 3 and that every game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. The league’s posted schedule lists Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3; Game 2 on Friday, June 5; Game 3 on Monday, June 8; and Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10. If necessary, Game 5 is scheduled for June 13, Game 6 for June 16 and Game 7 for June 19. (nba.com) ### Where will viewers be able to watch the series? ABC is the exclusive broadcaster for the 2026 Finals, according to the NBA’s Finals schedule page. ESPN’s playoff schedule page also says the Finals “begin June 3 and will be broadcast by ABC.” The league’s Finals hub repeats that the series is scheduled to tip off June 3 on ABC. ### How firm is the June 3 start if the conference finals are still going on? (nba.com) The NBA has already posted the full Finals calendar, rather than a tentative window, on its official schedule page. That means the conference finals are being played on the league’s set postseason timeline, with the winners advancing into the June 3 opener. The playoff schedule page says it will be updated as postseason scheduling is officially announced, but the Finals dates are already listed. (nba.com) ### What should fans watch for before June 3 arrives? May 21 is the latest update time shown on the NBA’s playoffs schedule page, which says it will continue to post series matchups and game information as they are officially announced. The next concrete step is the completion of Knicks-Cavaliers and Thunder-Spurs, which will determine the two teams in Game 1 on June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)