The 2026 NBA Finals tip off Wednesday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with the San Antonio Spurs hosting the New York Knicks in Game 1. ABC will be the exclusive linear home of the 80th NBA Finals. Each game also streams on the ESPN App, with tip-off for all seven games scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
This year’s best-of-seven series is a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, in which the Spurs won in five games. Now, 27 years later, this is a huge stage for both franchises. The Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since that 1999 series, and it is their first Finals appearance ever on ABC.
New York rolled through the Eastern Conference with their trio of headliners, including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges. The Knicks beat the Hawks 4-2 in the first round, swept the 76ers 4-0 in the semifinals, and then swept the Cavaliers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. New York’s last NBA championship wins came in 1970 and 1973, and they are trying to end a title drought that dates back more than half a century.
The Spurs are making their sixth Finals appearance on ABC, led by Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and a deep young core. San Antonio took a tougher route, beating the Trail Blazers 4-1 in Round 1, outlasting the Timberwolves 4-2 in the West semifinals, and then defeating the Thunder 4-3 in the West Finals. The Spurs own five NBA titles, won in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Not only is this a Finals rematch from the 20th century, but tonight’s game is also a rematch from the 2025 NBA Cup championship game. This is the eighth straight year that the NBA will have a unique champion, which is the longest streak in league history.
Additionally, youth will be on full display for both teams. For the Knicks, Brunson has been the engine, Towns has given them a dominant inside-out presence, and Bridges has added steady two-way production. For the Spurs, Wembanyama has powered the run, De’Aaron Fox has given San Antonio another high-end shot creator, and Stephon Castle has been one of the young players helping drive the playoff surge.
When to Watch the 2026 NBA Finals
For this year’s Finals broadcast, ESPN’s coverage will feature Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, and Lisa Salters on the lead TV crew. For the first time, the Inside the NBA team will handle the official pregame, halftime, and postgame shows, and ESPN’s NBA Tip-Off will run before every game. Game 3 also gets an alternate presentation from Madison Square Garden on ESPN. On the production side, ABC’s Finals coverage will use 1080p HDR for the first time, plus 52 cameras and several new replay tools.
2026 NBA Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Knicks at Spurs — Wednesday, June 3, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
- Game 2: Knicks at Spurs — Friday, June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
- Game 3: Spurs at Knicks — Monday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.
- Game 4: Spurs at Knicks — Wednesday, June 10, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
- Game 5: Knicks at Spurs — Saturday, June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, if necessary.
- Game 6: Spurs at Knicks — Tuesday, June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, if necessary.
- Game 7: Knicks at Spurs — Friday, June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, if necessary
How to Watch the 2026 NBA Finals on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV & More
Fans in ABC-over-the-air markets can watch the Finals free with a TV antenna, since ABC is a broadcast network received over the air. Using a site like Antennas Direct can help you find which ABC affiliates are in your area and the best antenna to watch.
The series will also be available through live TV streaming services that carry ABC, including DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV, though local channel availability can vary by service and market.
The 2026 NBA Finals will also be available to stream in the ESPN app.
