Upcoming NBA Western Conference Finals dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
What the Western Conference Finals decide
The Western Conference Finals are the third round of the NBA playoffs: a best-of-seven series between the last two teams standing in the West, with the winner advancing to the NBA Finals. The series is played in the two teams' home arenas, typically in the second half of May, after the conference semifinals and before the Finals in June.
Since 2022 the West champion has received the Oscar Robertson Trophy, named for the Hall of Fame guard, and the series' best player has received the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy as Western Conference Finals MVP; Stephen Curry won the first one in 2022. The Eastern Conference counterpart, the Bob Cousy Trophy, is awarded in the parallel series in the East.
Which teams host and how the series runs
The higher seed holds home-court advantage and hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 under the 2-2-1-1-1 format; the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4 and 6. Because the bracket is fixed, the West finalists are almost always two of the conference's stronger regular-season teams, and the gap in seeding is often small. In 2026, the 1-seed Oklahoma City Thunder and the 2-seed San Antonio Spurs met in a series between two teams with 62 or more wins, the first playoff matchup of that kind since the 1998 Finals.
Games 1 through 4 are certain to be played. Games 5, 6 and 7 are if-necessary games, so read the refund terms for an unplayed game before buying one. A West final can be a sweep or a seven-game series; 2026 went to a Game 7 for the first time since 2018.
The West spans the Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones, from Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Houston to Denver, Phoenix and the California teams. Check the local start time on your ticket, since national broadcast slots are listed in Eastern time.
How demand behaves in a conference final
Ticket demand in the conference finals sits one step below the NBA Finals and well above the earlier rounds. There are only two series left, each a direct path to a championship series, and the home team's season-ticket members typically get first claim on seats before any public release. Most fans buy on the resale market, where prices move with every result.
- Game 1 carries the opener's premium, especially after a long wait between rounds.
- A potential series-clinching game at home draws the strongest demand, because the crowd may see the trophy presentation and a Finals berth decided in person.
- Game 7 is the scarcest ticket of the round.
- A franchise drought lifts demand at any seed. The 2026 Spurs reached the conference finals in their first playoff appearance since 2019 and went on to their first Finals since 2014.
Because the start of the series depends on when both semifinals end, the schedule can be set with little notice. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Seating for a West title series
Western Conference Finals games are played in each team's regular NBA arena, so standard basketball seating rules apply. For most buyers the best balance is the lower-bowl sideline (the 100-level sections along the long sides), around the middle rows of each section, high enough to see over the benches and scorer's table. Baseline seats behind the baskets cost less but compress the far end of the floor, and the lowest baseline rows can sit behind the basket stanchion. Upper-level sideline seats show the full court and put you among the home team's most vocal fans.
If you are traveling to a road game, expect a partisan building in a closeout game. Most crowds are friendly, but a visiting jersey will be noticed.
Recent Western champions
The West has produced a different champion in almost every recent season:
- 2020: Los Angeles Lakers, who went on to win the title.
- 2021: Phoenix Suns, who lost the Finals to Milwaukee.
- 2022: Golden State Warriors, who won the title.
- 2023: Denver Nuggets, who won the title.
- 2024: Dallas Mavericks, who lost the Finals to Boston.
- 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the title.
- 2026: San Antonio Spurs, who beat the defending-champion Thunder in seven games and lost the Finals to New York.
The 2026 series opened with a double-overtime Spurs win in Oklahoma City, the first double-overtime game in a Western Conference Finals in 50 years, since Phoenix and Golden State in 1976.
History of the Western Conference Finals
Before 1970 the NBA was split into divisions, and the equivalent round was the Western Division finals, first played in 1949. The NBA realigned into two conferences in 1970, and the round became the Western Conference Finals. Conference championship trophies were first awarded in 2001 and renamed for Oscar Robertson in 2022, the same year the series MVP award was introduced.
The Los Angeles Lakers have won the most West titles, 19, and have made the most conference finals appearances of any team. For current playoff brackets and schedules, see the NBA playoffs page.
Frequently asked questions
When are the NBA Western Conference Finals played?
They are the third round of the playoffs, typically played in the second half of May after the conference semifinals. The winner advances to the NBA Finals in June.
Who hosts Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals?
The higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. The lower seed hosts Games 3, 4 and 6.
What trophy does the Western Conference champion win?
The Oscar Robertson Trophy, awarded under that name since 2022. The series MVP receives the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy.
Which team has won the most Western Conference titles?
The Los Angeles Lakers, with 19 West titles.
Who won the 2026 Western Conference Finals?
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games, then lost the 2026 NBA Finals to the New York Knicks in five.