Thunder Gilgeous-Alexander MVP Basketball

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, talks to guard Jalen Williams, left, before a news conference after Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA basketball MVP as guard Cason Wallace, back right, looks on, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

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

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.