NBA Releases Full 2026 Finals Schedule; Series Opens June 3
nba-releases-full-2026-finals-schedule-series-opens-june-3
NEW YORK — The NBA on Monday unveiled the complete broadcast and date lineup for the 2026 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, confirming that the best-of-seven showdown will begin Wednesday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Key dates and tipoff times
• Game 1: Wednesday, June 3
• Game 2: Friday, June 5
• Game 3: Monday, June 8
• Game 4: Wednesday, June 10
• Game 5*: Saturday, June 13
• Game 6*: Tuesday, June 16
• Game 7*: Friday, June 19
*If necessary
All contests are slated for 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) and will air exclusively on ABC. The Finals will follow the traditional 2-2-1-1-1 home-court format, with an additional off day inserted between each travel game.
Field taking shape
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder headline a crowded Western Conference that also features the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and a revamped Los Angeles Lakers roster led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic. In the East, the Detroit Pistons currently hold the conference’s best record, while the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics remain firmly in the hunt.
Recap of last season
Oklahoma City captured its first NBA title in 2025, edging the Indiana Pacers in seven games behind Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder now seek to become the league’s first repeat champion since Golden State’s back-to-back run in 2017-18.
James noted recently that Doncic, acquired in a blockbuster trade last year, appears increasingly comfortable in Los Angeles as the Lakers push for their first Finals berth since winning the 2020 championship.
Source: Lakers Nation
