When Are The NBA Finals? 2022 Schedule, Game Dates, TV Channel, Times

For the first time in three years, the NBA Finals are back on its traditional schedule. After the pandemic halted the 2020 season for four months and the 2021 season concluded in mid-July, the 2022 campaign will be over before the official start of summer.

When are the 2022 NBA Finals? The series starts with Game 1 on Thursday, June 2. The NBA Finals won’t end any earlier than June 10, which is the date for Game 4. If the series goes the distance, it’ll be decided in Game 7 on June 19.

The TV network for the NBA Finals has remained the same for two decades. ABC will broadcast every game of the NBA’s championship series.

The NBA Finals have gone exactly six games in each of the last three years. The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018 for the last Finals sweep. LeBron James and the Cavs came back from a 3-1 series deficit in 2016 to win the Finals' most recent Game 7.

In 2018, Golden State became the last team to repeat as the NBA champion. There will be a new winner in 2022 since the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round of this year’s playoffs.

The NBA postseason is the longest of the four major sports. Depending on how many games are played in the Finals, the 2022 NBA playoffs could last for more than two months. The first round of the playoffs started on April 16. The NBA’s play-in tournament began on April 12.

The 2022 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23. NBA free agency officially starts on July 1.

Here’s a look at the 2022 NBA Finals schedule.

Game 1: Thursday, June 2, 9 p.m. ET

Game 2: Sunday, June 5, 8 p.m. ET

Game 3: Wednesday, June 8, 9 p.m. ET

Game 4: Friday, June 10, 9 p.m. ET

Game 5: Monday, June 13, 9 p.m. ET (If necessary)

Game 6: Thursday, June 16, 9 p.m. ET (If necessary)

Game 7: Sunday, June 19, 8 p.m. ET (If necessary)