No. 1 vs. No. 2. The MVP vs. the Defensive Player of the Year. Two 60-plus win teams.
It’s the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference finals in a highly anticipated series.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series tips off on May 18.
The reigning NBA champion Thunder enter the West finals without a loss this postseason, sweeping both of their first- and second-round opponents to become just the 11th team to start the playoffs 8-0. That has left them well rested entering this stage of the playoffs.
The Thunder have had a full week off since wrapping up their series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Led by newly crowned two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have hardly been tested. They have a +133 point differential through eight postseason games, winning by an average of 16.6 points per game. The Thunder will get a boost with the return of All-Star Jalen Williams, who missed the entire second round series with a hamstring injury.
While this is the Thunder’s second straight appearance in the West Finals, this is new territory for this young group of Spurs led by defensive player of the year Victor Wembanyama. It’s the organization’s first trip to the West finals since 2017.
And while they haven’t been perfect like the Thunder (they won the first round in five games and the second round in six), Mitch Johnson’s team has been equally as impressive and dominant. They have a +160 point differential through their 11 games, winning by an average of 14.4 points per game. After their second round series was tied at 2-2, they trounced the Minnesota Timberwolves by 29 points in Game 5 and 30 in Game 6.
The Spurs also know how to beat the Thunder, taking four of five games against OKC this season. Now in the playoffs, it’s the first to four victories with an NBA Finals berth on the line.
Here’s what to know about Game 1 of Thunder-Spurs, including start time, where to watch, odds, an updated bracket and schedules:
What time is the Thunder vs Spurs game tonight? NBA playoff schedule, start time
Game 1 of the Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs Western Conference finals series tips off at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 18 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Where to watch Thunder vs Spurs: TV channel, stream
NBC and Peacock will air and stream all the games in the Western Conference finals
Stream Thunder vs Spurs on Peacock
Thunder vs Spurs odds: Who’s favored in the Thunder vs Spurs game?
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
NBA playoff bracket 2026
Here’s a look at the 2026 NBA playoff bracket and results of every series so far in the postseason:
Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference first round
Eastern Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference finals
Western Conference
Western Conference first round
Western Conference semifinals
Western Conference finals
Eastern Conference finals schedule
New York Knicks (3) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4)
All games will air on ESPN unless otherwise noted
Times are Central
Western Conference finals schedule
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. San Antonio Spurs (2)
All games will air on NBC and stream on Peacock
Times are Central
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NBA playoff TV schedule tonight, Thunder vs Spurs Game 1 start time
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
