2026 NBA Finals schedule released as the league alters the start of ...
The revised schedule could create a longer break between the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft
www.cbssports.comThe 2026 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 3, with up to seven games (Game 7, if needed, would be Friday, June 19). All games are set to air on ABC, with start times around 8:30 p.m. ET, and no Finals games on Sundays this year.[1][2][3][5]
Key dates to watch
- Game 1: Wednesday, June 3, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 2: Friday, June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 3: Monday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Game 4: Wednesday, June 10, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- If needed: Game 5 on Saturday, June 13; Game 6 on Tuesday, June 16; Game 7 on Friday, June 19.[3][5]
Context and notes
- This schedule represents a Wednesday-Friday-Monday-Wednesday start to the series, designed to shorten the gap between games while preserving travel and rest logistics.[2]
- The no-Sunday-games change is a highlight of the 2026 setup, a departure from recent years.[1][3]
Would you like a compact calendar you can import to Google Calendar or iCal with these dates? I can also provide a quick page-by-page briefing on which teams are favored for 2026 by current pundits if you want.[1]