Four teams are left, and the 2026 Conference Finals have already delivered two of the wildest opening games in years — a 22-point Knicks comeback in overtime and a Victor Wembanyama masterpiece that needed double overtime to settle. Here is the full picture: the bracket, the matchups that decide each series, who has the edge, and exactly how to watch.
The bracket at a glance
The West pits the top two seeds against each other: the Oklahoma City Thunder, chasing a repeat, against the San Antonio Spurs and their first conference final run in over a decade. The East is the matchup plenty of people predicted back in October — the New York Knicks against the Cleveland Cavaliers, two clubs that spent the regular season trading places near the top of the conference.
West: Thunder vs Spurs
This is the series that will sell the Finals. Oklahoma City built the best regular-season defense in the league around length, switching and a trio of perimeter stoppers, and they are led by a back-to-back MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. San Antonio's answer is the most disruptive defensive force in basketball: Wembanyama, who opened the series with a 41-point, 24-rebound night that bent the math of the whole matchup.
The chess game is clear. The Thunder want to pack the paint, wall off Wembanyama's lob threat, and dare San Antonio's role players to win it from outside. The Spurs want to drag OKC into the half court, where Wembanyama erases drives and turns the Thunder's best looks into contested fadeaways. Whichever coaching staff blinks first on those adjustments probably loses.
East: Knicks vs Cavaliers
Game 1 told you everything about why this series is so hard to call. Cleveland led by 22 in the fourth quarter and lost in overtime — the biggest playoff comeback in Knicks franchise history. New York carried a clear rest advantage into the series, having closed out the second round more than a week earlier while the Cavs survived a Game 7 on the road. That freshness showed in the closing minutes.
From here, the East final turns on stars and nerve. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns give New York a two-man game that is brutal to guard, while Donovan Mitchell remains Cleveland's best shot-creator when the offense bogs down. The Cavs were a preseason favorite for a reason; they have the talent to take this back. But blowing a 22-point lead at home is the kind of result that lingers.
Schedule and how to watch
Both series are best-of-seven, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. In the United States, the Eastern Conference Finals air on ESPN, and the Western Conference Finals are carried on NBC and stream on Peacock. Tip times sit in the evening Eastern slot, with the two series staggered so you can follow both.
- East (Knicks vs Cavaliers): Game 1 went to New York; the series then runs every other night through a potential Game 7 at month's end.
- West (Thunder vs Spurs): San Antonio drew first blood in double OT, with Game 2 in Oklahoma City and the series alternating cities from there.
Wherever you are, you can track every quarter live — scores, lead changes and series state — on the Scorelisto basketball live scores page as each game unfolds.
Predictions
In the West, the instinct is to back experience and the league's best defense, and OKC remains the favorite to come out of the conference. But Wembanyama is the rare player who can flip a series on his own, and a Spurs win would surprise nobody who watched Game 1. Call it Thunder in six, with a real chance San Antonio steals it if the role players keep hitting.
In the East, the rest edge plus that Game 1 swing tilts things toward New York. The Knicks have the steadier closing lineup; the Cavaliers have the higher ceiling if their shot-making travels. Knicks in six feels right, but a Cleveland response in Game 2 would reset the whole conversation.
FAQ
How many games are the Conference Finals? Each is a best-of-seven series. The first team to four wins advances to the NBA Finals; the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
Who has home-court advantage? Oklahoma City in the West and, in the East, the team with the better regular-season record holds home court for a potential Game 7.
When do the NBA Finals start? The Finals are scheduled to tip in early June, once both conference series conclude. The champion will be crowned in a best-of-seven series.
Where can I follow live scores? Head to Scorelisto basketball for live scores, or browse the blog for more playoff coverage.