Thunder open Western Conference Finals against the Spurs tonight

Oklahoma City opens the Western Conference finals against San Antonio on Monday night, with Game 1 set for 8:30 p.m. ET at the Thunder’s home floor, according to the NBA’s official playoff schedule. The Thunder reached the series as the West’s No. 1 seed and have not lost in the 2026 postseason so far, after sweeping Los Angeles in the conference semifinals. San Antonio, the No. 2 seed, advanced by beating Minnesota in six games. NBC and Peacock are scheduled to carry the opener, the league said. ### How did Oklahoma City get here without a playoff loss? Oklahoma City swept the Lakers 4-0 in the conference semifinals, the NBA’s playoff schedule shows. The Thunder won those four games by scores of 108-90, 125-107, 131-108 and 115-110. That left them unbeaten heading into the conference finals. ESPN’s playoff tracker said Oklahoma City had locked up its third straight No. 1 seed in the Western Conference before the postseason began. (nba.com) The NBA’s West finals page lists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Oklahoma City’s leading scorer in the playoffs at 29.1 points per game, with 7.1 assists per game. ### What did San Antonio show on the way past Minnesota? San Antonio beat Minnesota 4-2 in the conference semifinals, according to the NBA schedule page. The Spurs dropped Game 1, then won Games 2 and 3, lost Game 4, and closed the series with wins in Games 5 and 6. Their clincher was a 139-109 victory, the league’s bracket page shows. Victor Wembanyama has been San Antonio’s statistical headliner entering the series. (espn.com) The NBA’s West finals page lists him at 20.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs. ESPN’s team page also highlighted a 39-point, 15-rebound performance by Wembanyama against Minnesota earlier in the round. ### When do the games start, and where can viewers watch? (nba.com) Monday, May 18, is the date for Game 1, and the official start time is 8:30 p.m. ET, according to NBA.com. The league’s schedule lists NBC and Peacock as the broadcasters for Game 1 in Oklahoma City. The NBA’s posted series schedule sets Game 2 for Wednesday, May 20, also in Oklahoma City at 8:30 p.m. (nba.com) ET. Game 3 shifts to San Antonio on Friday, May 22, and Game 4 is scheduled there for Sunday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET. Games 5 through 7 are listed as if necessary. ### Which players are the central matchup at the start of the series? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are the top-listed statistical leaders for the two teams on the NBA’s West finals page. (nba.com) Gilgeous-Alexander enters the matchup at 29.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game in the playoffs, while Wembanyama is listed at 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. The NBA page also identifies Oklahoma City as the No. 1 seed and San Antonio as the No. 2 seed, setting up a conference finals between the top two teams in the West bracket. ESPN’s San Antonio team page lists the Spurs at 62-20 in the regular season. ### What comes after Game 1? Wednesday, May 20, is the date already on the league schedule for Game 2 in Oklahoma City, with another 8:30 p.m. (nba.com) ET tipoff on NBC and Peacock. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin June 3 on ABC, according to the league’s 2026 playoff calendar. (nba.com)