See the world in vertical: Top photos by AP photojournalists

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, top, drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoffs series in Minneapolis, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

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NBA tipoff: The conference finals start with Spurs-Thunder on Monday

Merry Christmas! No, wait, these are the NBA conference finals. Easy mistake. If these games — San Antonio at Oklahoma City, and Cleveland at New York — make you want to put on sweaters, have some eggnog and unwrap gifts, there’s a reason. Those matchups were part of the NBA’s schedule on Dec. 25 this season. And now, they’re also the matchups for the conference finals. Oklahoma City and San Antonio will play in the Western Conference finals, that series beginning Monday on the Thunder’s home floor. And Cleveland will play New York in the Eastern Conference finals, starting Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.