At long last, the wait is over. The championship matchup between the Celtics and Mavericks is here.
Boston is back in the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons, having ripped through the Eastern Conference with relative ease. The Celtics have lost just twice in this year's playoffs, and they swept the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Their success has come without Kristaps Porzingis, as the 7-2 center has missed the last five weeks with a right calf strain. But Porzingis is expected to rejoin the rotation for Game 1, sliding into a formidable lineup already boasting Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Dallas tore through the Western Conference en route to the franchise's first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2011. Its tantalizing one-two punch of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has caused fits for opposing defenses, particularly late in games. And storylines abound with Irving, who spent two successful yet tumultuous years with Boston earlier in his career.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 NBA Finals, including the tipoff time for Game 1 between the Celtics and Mavericks.
What time is the NBA Finals tonight?
- Date: Thursday, June 6
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. CT
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 6. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston.
What channel is Celtics vs. Mavericks on tonight?
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Sling
Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals will air nationally on ABC. Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (color analyst) and JJ Redick (color analyst) will have the call, with Lisa Salters serving as the sideline reporter. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling.
Sling is the home for sports fans, as it offers a wide range of channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
Celtics vs. Mavericks radio station
- Radio channel: SiriusXM channels 86 and 212
Listen to Celtics vs. Mavericks Game 1 and every game of the 2024 NBA Finals live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 86 and 212.
Get 3 months of SiriusXM for just $1. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NBA Finals schedule 2024
Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 are scheduled to be played at TD Garden in Boston. The series will shift to the American Airlines Center in Dallas for Games 3, 4 and 6.
(1) Celtics vs. (5) Mavericks
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| June 6 | Game 1 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 9 | Game 2 | 8 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 12 | Game 3 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 14 | Game 4 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 17 | Game 5* | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 20 | Game 6* | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| June 23 | Game 7* | 8 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
*If necessary
NBA Playoffs bracket 2024
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