NBA sets Knicks‑Cavs and Thunder‑Spurs

The NBA’s conference finals field is set, with the New York Knicks facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East and the Oklahoma City Thunder meeting the San Antonio Spurs in the West. CBS Sports reported Monday that Cleveland eliminated the Detroit Pistons to complete the bracket, while NBC said the final four is now New York, Cleveland, Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The Western Conference finals begin Monday night, and the Eastern Conference finals start Tuesday, according to published schedules. Oklahoma City arrives as the defending champion and has not lost in this postseason, CBS Sports reported. ### How did the bracket get finalized? Cleveland secured the last remaining spot by ousting Detroit, CBS Sports reported Monday. That result sent the Cavaliers to New York for the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks, ending the second round and locking in both conference matchups. NBC’s playoff roundup listed the same final four — Spurs versus Thunder in the West, Knicks versus Cavaliers in the East — and said the conference finals had arrived after two completed playoff rounds. The outlet said Oklahoma City, San Antonio, New York and Cleveland advanced through different playoff paths to reach the last four. (cbssports.com) ### When does Thunder-Spurs start, and where is it airing? The Western Conference finals begin Monday, May 18, with San Antonio at Oklahoma City. NBC said Game 1 is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern and that Western Conference finals games will air on NBC and Peacock. CBS Sports also listed Thunder-Spurs as the series opening Monday. (nbc.com) Oklahoma City enters the series with the cleanest playoff record left in the field. CBS Sports called Thunder-Spurs the most anticipated series of the 2026 playoffs and noted that the top-seeded Thunder have not lost in the postseason so far. ### Why is Oklahoma City drawing so much attention? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives Oklahoma City the league’s reigning MVP again. (nbc.com) CBS Sports said Gilgeous-Alexander won his second straight MVP award heading into the Western Conference finals, adding to the attention around a matchup between the defending champions and a Spurs team that also reached the final four. (cbssports.com) ESPN’s playoff coverage has framed the conference finals as the new center of the postseason, with expert picks focusing on Knicks-Cavaliers and Thunder-Spurs. While ESPN’s picks piece was not needed to establish the bracket, it underscored that both series are now the league’s two remaining best-of-seven contests before the NBA Finals. (cbssports.com) ### What is the schedule for Knicks-Cavaliers? New York opens the Eastern Conference finals at home on Tuesday, May 19. NorthJersey reported that the Knicks-Cavaliers series starts Tuesday and published the dates, times and television information for the matchup. The Knicks’ path gives New York home-court advantage to open the series, while Cleveland comes in immediately after finishing off Detroit. (espn.com) CBS Sports said the Cavaliers would travel to New York after eliminating the Pistons. ### What comes after the conference finals? The 2026 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 3, according to ESPN’s playoff schedule page and earlier published postseason calendars. (northjersey.com) That leaves Thunder-Spurs and Knicks-Cavaliers as the two series that will determine the championship matchup. Game 1 of Thunder-Spurs is set for Monday, May 18, and Game 1 of Knicks-Cavaliers is set for Tuesday, May 19, according to NBC, CBS Sports and NorthJersey. (cbssports.com) The winners will advance to the NBA Finals, which ESPN said will be broadcast by ABC beginning June 3. (nbc.com) (espn.com)