NBA confirms conference finals matchups

The NBA’s final four was in place by Thursday, with the Oklahoma City Thunder facing the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals and the Cleveland Cavaliers meeting the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. NBA.com’s playoff bracket lists the two conference finals matchups and says the NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 3 at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time on ABC. ESPN and CBS Sports also listed June 3 as the start date for the Finals and identified the same four remaining teams. ### Which teams are left, and how was that confirmed? NBA.com updated its official 2026 playoff schedule on May 20 to show New York versus Cleveland in the East and Oklahoma City versus San Antonio in the West. Basketball-Reference’s playoff pages list the same conference finals pairings, providing an additional record of the bracket after the semifinal round ended. (nba.com) CBS Sports wrote on Wednesday night that “four teams remain” in the 2026 playoffs: Thunder vs. Spurs and Knicks vs. Cavaliers. ESPN’s playoff hub likewise says the postseason is moving toward the Finals with those teams still alive. ### What is the latest in Thunder-Spurs? (nba.com) CBS Sports reported that Oklahoma City beat San Antonio 122-113 in Game 2 on May 20, leveling the Western Conference finals at 1-1. NBA.com’s series page also shows the matchup tied 1-1 after Game 2. May 18 was the date of Game 1 in Oklahoma City, according to ESPN’s playoff schedule page and outside coverage cited in the source briefings. (cbssports.com) NBA.com identifies the Thunder as the No. 1 seed and the Spurs as the No. 2 seed in the Western bracket, placing the opening games in Oklahoma City. (cbssports.com) ### What is happening in Cavaliers-Knicks? Basketball-Reference’s Game 1 box score shows New York beat Cleveland 115-104 on May 19 in the Eastern Conference finals opener. NBA.com’s series page lists the Knicks ahead 1-0 and says Game 2 is scheduled for May 21 at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. (espn.com) CBS Sports’ playoff page and NBA.com’s bracket both reflect that same series state, with New York holding the early edge over Cleveland entering Thursday’s game. ### When do the Finals start, and where will they air? June 3 is the date attached to the next round. ESPN’s playoff page says the 2026 NBA Finals “begin June 3” and will be broadcast by ABC. (basketball-reference.com) CBS Sports’ playoff coverage says the postseason runs through the NBA Finals in June, and NBA.com’s bracket places the championship round on June 3 at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time on ABC. (cbssports.com) ABC is again listed as the television home for the Finals across the league and media schedule pages reviewed Thursday. NBA.com said its playoff schedule page will be updated each time postseason scheduling is officially announced. ### What comes next on the calendar? May 21 is the next confirmed date on the bracket, with Cavaliers-Knicks Game 2 scheduled for 8 p.m. (espn.com) Eastern on ESPN. NBA.com’s series page shows Thunder-Spurs continuing after Oklahoma City’s Game 2 win tied that matchup at one game apiece, and the league’s bracket points next to the June 3 Finals opener on ABC. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)