2026 NBA – After winning the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 123-108 in Game 3 to lead the series 2-1—setting up a long pause before the Finals begin on June 3
When the Knicks punched their ticket back to the NBA Finals, it wasn’t just the celebration that stuck—it was the waiting. More than two decades of playoff hope and frustration will be followed by one last decision: who New York will face once the Western Conference series runs its course.
In the Eastern Conference finals. the Knicks are now going to the NBA Finals. and their postseason run has reached a historic length. They’ve won 11 straight postseason games. the most in franchise history. and the streak is tied for the third-longest such run in league history with the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.
The only question left is the opponent.
In the West, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied to every possession, every adjustment, every late-game run. After falling behind earlier, the Thunder pulled away in Game 3 with a 123-108 victory to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference finals.
That Game 3 swing started with a deficit that looked like it could snowball. The Thunder overcame an early 15-0 deficit, and the work wasn’t just top-line scoring. Alex Caruso and Oklahoma City’s bench players combined for 76 points, helping the Thunder steady the game and seize control.
They’ll need to finish that job before the Finals schedule begins.
The NBA Finals will stream exclusively on ABC, with all games starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
Game 1 is Wednesday, June 3 at Thunder/Spurs at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Game 2 follows Friday, June 5 at Thunder/Spurs at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
New York enters on Monday, June 8 for Game 3, scheduled at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Game 4 moves back to New York on Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
If the series stretches, Game 5* is Saturday, June 13 at Thunder/Spurs at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Game 6* is Tuesday, June 16 at Knicks at 8:30 p.m. ET.
And if there’s a Game 7*, it’s Friday, June 19 at Thunder/Spurs at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Western Conference series has already delivered swingy results, and the schedule shows what’s coming next.
Game 1 ended Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT).
Game 2 went Thunder 122, Spurs 113.
Game 3 was Thunder 123, Spurs 108.
Game 4 sent Spurs 103, Thunder 82.
Before the Finals, the next games in the Western Conference finals are already set: Game 5 is Tuesday, May 26 at Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Game 6 is Thursday, May 28 at Spurs at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Game 7* is Saturday, May 30 at Thunder at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The Knicks can’t control how long the West takes. They simply have to wait, and that pause matters. Momentum has been on New York’s side during their 11 straight postseason wins. and having to sit while the Thunder and Spurs sort out their last answer could disrupt the rhythm that carried them this far.
Still, when the whistle finally does blow on June 3, the Finals window will open with New York already loaded with history—and with the Thunder holding a 2-1 lead after Game 3’s turnaround from an early 15-0 deficit to a 123-108 win.
Knicks NBA Finals 2026 Thunder Spurs Western Conference finals Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs Alex Caruso Larry O'Brien Trophy ABC NBA Finals schedule