Spurs vs. Thunder live updates: 2026 NBA playoffs Game 1 start time, picks and predictions

Hello and welcome to The Athletic’s live coverage of the 2026 NBA Western Conference finals!We’ve got boots on the ground in Oklahoma City for Game 1 of this titanic clash, pitting the defending champion Thunder against the San Antonio Spurs. And the stars will be shining bright as Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces off against San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, fresh off winning NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.Follow along for all the biggest moments and real-time analysis from our NBA experts building up to tipoff and then throughout Game 1 tonight.