Western Conference finals begin Monday as Thunder face Spurs in Game 1

The NBA’s Western Conference finals open Monday night in Oklahoma City, where the top-seeded Thunder host the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in Game 1. The league’s official playoff schedule lists an 8:30 p.m. ET tip on NBC and Peacock, with Games 1 and 2 set at Paycom Center before the series moves to San Antonio on Friday. Oklahoma City reached the round without a playoff loss, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the conference semifinals after another first-round sweep. San Antonio advanced by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games, closing that series with a 139-109 win in Game 6. Sunday’s MVP announcement added another storyline before the opener. (nba.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the award for the second consecutive season, and the NBA said he and Victor Wembanyama would meet again Monday night in the conference finals. ### When and where does the series start? Monday, May 18, is the date for Game 1, and Oklahoma City is the site after the Thunder secured the West’s No. 1 seed. (nba.com) The NBA’s playoff schedule says Game 2 is Wednesday, May 20, also in Oklahoma City, before Game 3 on Friday, May 22, and Game 4 on Sunday, May 24, in San Antonio. (nba.com) June 3 is the scheduled start of the NBA Finals, according to the league’s postseason calendar. That leaves the West winner less than three weeks from Monday’s opener to finish the series and prepare for the championship round. ### How did Oklahoma City get here without a loss? Oklahoma City entered the conference finals at 8-0 in the playoffs, according to the NBA’s bracket and results page. (nba.com) The Thunder swept the Lakers in the conference semifinals by scores of 108-90, 125-107, 131-108 and 115-110. The Thunder also finished the regular season with an NBA-best 64 wins, according to the league’s series preview. (nba.com) That combination — home court, an unbeaten playoff run and the league MVP — gives Oklahoma City the most decorated résumé left in the West entering Monday night. ### What did the MVP vote add to this matchup? (nba.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player on Sunday, the league said. The NBA’s account of the award said he became the 14th player to win back-to-back MVPs and the 18th to win at least two. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City’s coach, said Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth showed up in “his game and on his leadership and on his perspective.” The league also said international players finished 1-2-3 in MVP voting for the fifth straight season, with Nikola Jokic second and Wembanyama third. (nba.com) ### What does San Antonio bring into Game 1? (nba.com) San Antonio arrived after a longer semifinal, beating Minnesota 4-2. The Spurs split the first four games, then won Game 5 by 29 points and Game 6 by 30 to close the series. Victor Wembanyama is the headliner on the San Antonio side, and the NBA’s MVP story said he finished third in this season’s voting. (nba.com) Monday’s opener puts him directly opposite Gilgeous-Alexander less than 24 hours after the award result became public. ### What comes next after Monday night? Wednesday, May 20, is the date for Game 2 in Oklahoma City, with another 8:30 p.m. (nba.com) ET start on NBC and Peacock. The series then shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on May 22 and Game 4 on May 24, according to the NBA schedule. Saturday, May 30, is the scheduled date for a Game 7 in Oklahoma City if the series goes the distance. (nba.com) The NBA Finals are set to begin on June 3. (nba.com)