Thunder host Spurs in Western Conference finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder open the Western Conference finals at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, with Game 1 scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, according to the NBA’s official playoff schedule. Oklahoma City reached the round after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the conference semifinals, and the league’s playoff site lists the Thunder as 8-0 this postseason. San Antonio advanced by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2, closing the series with a 139-109 win in Game 6 on May 15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters the opener after winning his second straight NBA Most Valuable Player award on Sunday, according to reports published May 17. The Thunder are also the defending NBA champions, a status reflected in the league’s playoff coverage ahead of the conference finals. (nba.com) ### When and where does the series start? Monday, May 18, is the date for Game 1, and the NBA schedule lists San Antonio at Oklahoma City for 8:30 p.m. ET. The league’s postseason calendar shows Game 2 in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, May 20, before the series shifts to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4 on May 22 and May 24. (usatoday.com) The NBA’s official playoff page lists the matchup as the No. 1 Thunder against the No. 2 Spurs in the West finals. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 is scheduled for May 30 in Oklahoma City. ### How did Oklahoma City get here without a loss? Oklahoma City completed a 4-0 sweep of the Lakers in the conference semifinals, with the NBA playoff schedule listing wins of 108-90, 125-107, 131-108 and 115-110. (nba.com) The league’s playoff page also says the Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0 in the first round, leaving them unbeaten through eight postseason games. May 12 was the date the Thunder finished off Los Angeles, and the NBA’s playoff coverage described the result as Oklahoma City staying perfect in the postseason. That unbeaten run now carries into a series against a San Antonio team that needed six games in the previous round. ### What path did San Antonio take to reach Oklahoma City? (nba.com) San Antonio won its second-round series against Minnesota 4-2, according to the NBA playoff schedule. The Spurs dropped Game 1 and Game 4, then won Games 2, 3, 5 and 6, including the 139-109 clincher on May 15. The NBA’s playoff page said Stephon Castle scored 32 points with 11 rebounds in that closeout game. (nba.com) The same page said Victor Wembanyama’s development has accelerated San Antonio’s timetable as the Spurs prepare to face the defending champions. ### What is the latest on Gilgeous-Alexander? Sunday, May 17, was the date multiple reports said Gilgeous-Alexander won a second consecutive MVP award. (nba.com) USA Today reported the award after the Thunder guard led Oklahoma City to the league’s best regular-season record. (nba.com) The NBA’s playoff page on May 18 referred to Gilgeous-Alexander as the back-to-back Kia MVP in its conference finals coverage. That places the award announcement one day before Oklahoma City begins the West finals at home. ### What comes after Game 1? Wednesday, May 20, is the date for Game 2 in Oklahoma City, with another 8:30 p.m. ET start on NBC and Peacock, the NBA schedule shows. (usatoday.com) Games 3 and 4 are set for May 22 and May 24 in San Antonio. June 3 is the date the NBA Finals are scheduled to begin, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster, according to the league’s postseason calendar. (nba.com) The Eastern Conference finals begin Tuesday, May 19, with Cleveland at New York. (nba.com)