Oklahoma City vs San Antonio set

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals after both teams advanced, according to the NBA’s playoff schedule updated Friday. Oklahoma City swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the conference semifinals, while San Antonio beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. The series opens Monday, May 18, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern in Oklahoma City, with NBC and Peacock carrying the game. The winner will move on to the NBA Finals, which the league says begin June 3 on ABC. ### How did this matchup get locked in? The NBA’s official playoff schedule listed the West finals as No. 1 Oklahoma City against No. 2 San Antonio after the Spurs finished their semifinal series Friday. NBA.com’s playoff bracket also shows the matchup as set, with Oklahoma City holding home-court advantage after finishing as the top seed in the conference. Oklahoma City reached the round earlier in the week by sweeping the Lakers. NBA.com said the Thunder “stay perfect” after completing the 4-0 series, pushing their playoff record to 8-0. ### Why does Oklahoma City have home court? ESPN reported on April 9 that Oklahoma City clinched the NBA’s best regular-season record and secured its third straight No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. That result gave the Thunder home-court advantage throughout the postseason, including this series against San Antonio. The Thunder finished 64-16 at the time they wrapped up the top overall seed, ESPN reported. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said then that “none of it means anything if you don’t win in the end,” according to ESPN. ### What is at stake for the Thunder? USA Today reported before the playoffs that Oklahoma City was trying to become the first NBA team to repeat as champion since 2018. The Thunder won last season’s title and entered this postseason as the West’s top seed again, giving them a path to defend the championship from home. NBA.com’s playoff page lists Oklahoma City’s series leader as Gilgeous-Alexander at 29.1 points per game in the postseason entering the conference finals. The same page lists Victor Wembanyama as San Antonio’s top postseason scorer at 20.3 points per game. ### How did San Antonio come through the other side? San Antonio beat Minnesota 4-2 in the conference semifinals after winning Game 6 by a 139-109 score, according to the NBA’s playoff schedule page. NBA.com’s playoff coverage said the Spurs used a 20-0 run in the second quarter to pull away and close out the series. The Spurs had trailed 1-0 in the series before winning four of the next five games. NBA.com’s series page shows San Antonio took Games 2, 3, 5 and 6 to advance. ### When do the games start, and where can fans watch? Game 1 is set for Monday, May 18, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern in Oklahoma City, the NBA schedule shows. Game 2 follows on Wednesday, May 20, also in Oklahoma City, before the series shifts to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4 on May 22 and May 24. The NBA said Games 5 through 7, if necessary, are scheduled for May 26, May 28 and May 30. NBC and Peacock are listed as the broadcasters for every game in the series. ### What comes after the West finals? The NBA said the 2026 Finals begin on June 3 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. The West champion will meet the Eastern Conference winner, with the East finals still to be determined on the league’s schedule page Friday.