NBA releases Finals schedule after Lakers clinch spot
Fernando Medina / National Basketball Association / Getty
The Los Angeles Lakers have become the first team to punch their ticket to the 2020 NBA Finals Saturday, allowing the NBA to finally plan out its championship round.
The league has released two potential schedules for The Finals, dependent on what transpires between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
If the Heat and Celtics don't need a Game 7 - meaning Miami wins Game 6 Sunday - the schedule would work out as follows, courtesy of The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears:
| Game | Date | Time | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 30 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat |
| 2 | Oct. 2 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat |
| 3 | Oct. 4 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Heat | Lakers |
| 4 | Oct. 6 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Heat | Lakers |
| 5* | Oct. 9 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat |
| 6* | Oct. 11 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Heat | Lakers |
| 7* | Oct. 13 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat |
However, if the Celtics force a Game 7, the Finals would begin Oct. 2 and potentially run as late as Oct. 16.
| Game | Date | Time | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 2 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat/Celtics |
| 2 | Oct. 4 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat/Celtics |
| 3 | Oct. 6 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Heat/Celtics | Lakers |
| 4 | Oct. 9 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Heat/Celtics | Lakers |
| 5* | Oct. 11 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat/Celtics |
| 6* | Oct. 13 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Heat/Celtics | Lakers |
| 7* | Oct. 16 | 9:00 p.m. ET | Lakers | Heat/Celtics |
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