What are the NBA Finals?
Kabayan, the NBA Finals are the championship series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions. The first team to win four games is champion, so the series lasts four to seven games. Points aren’t added across games: a one-point win and a thirty-point win both count as one game.
NBA championship 2026
According to NBA Communications, the 2026 Finals were won by New York, with Jalen Brunson as Finals MVP. That’s the latest completed Finals as of November 2026. The 2026–27 season is now under way, so the next champion will be decided in June 2027.
How a best-of-seven works
| Series result | Games played |
|---|---|
| 4-0 | 4, a sweep |
| 4-1 | 5 |
| 4-2 | 6 |
| 4-3 | 7, the deciding game |
“3-2” is a series score; “108-104” is one game. A team up 3-1 needs one more win; the other needs three in a row. Kaya hindi pa tapos hangga’t walang apat na panalo.
Home court: 2-2-1-1-1
Since 2014 the NBA uses this order: the team with home-court advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 5 and 7; the other team hosts Games 3, 4 and 6. Games 5 to 7 happen only if needed. Older Finals used a 2-3-2 order, so archive schedules can look different.
NBA Finals live score and Philippine time
The Finals are played in June, during US daylight saving time, so an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off is 8:30 a.m. PHT the next day. For the NBA Finals live score or “live scores – NBA Finals”, use the official game centre; see NBA live score. For the NBA Finals score today after the game, see score NBA today.
NBA champions list: recent Finals
The full NBA championship list is on NBA.com. A few Finals Pinoy fans remember:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Finals: Milwaukee won in 2021 and Giannis was Finals MVP.
- Denver Nuggets NBA Finals: Denver won its first title in 2023.
- Lakers: 17 titles in franchise history, the latest in 2020. See NBA Lakers.
NBA teams without a championship
Several franchises have never won an NBA title. The list changes whenever a first-time champion wins, so check the NBA’s official champions list rather than an old graphic when you look up NBA teams no championship.
Finals MVP
The Finals MVP is chosen by a media panel after the series. A player can win it on a losing team in theory, but it almost always goes to the champion’s leader.
Road to the Finals
Teams reach the Finals through the Play-In (seeds 7–10) and three playoff rounds; see NBA playoffs and NBA standings.
Finals odds (21+)
Championship futures are open all season. If you’re 21 or older, our NBA odds guide explains them, and our Bet88 review covers a platform Pinoy players ask about. A price is not a prediction. Read our responsible gambling page.
Quick answers
Who won the NBA championship in 2026?
New York, with Jalen Brunson as Finals MVP, according to NBA Communications.
How many wins does a team need in the Finals?
Four.
Tara, abangan ang Finals. Laban, Pinoy fan!