The questions are as refreshing as they are intriguing: Will the Oklahoma City Thunder repeat? Can Jayson Tatum pull off an all-time comeback? Are the Denver Nuggets or San Antonio Spurs lurking in plain sight? Is the East as wide-open as we thought? Can LeBron James and Kevin Durant turn back the clock? Everything here for the best crypto basketball betting.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs tip off Saturday 18 April and the bracket is genuinely wide open. Eight first-round series, two conferences, sixteen teams, one will be standing when the Finals begin on June 3 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
Here's everything you need to know, full matchup previews, series odds, championship futures, and best bets from Duelbits Sportsbook.
Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
| Team | Outright Odds |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1.79 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 4.55 |
| Boston Celtics | 4.95 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 9.55 |
| Denver Nuggets | 10.30 |
| Detroit Pistons | 11.70 |
| New York Knicks | 16.70 |
| Houston Rockets | 51.00 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 72.00 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 90.00 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 110.00 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 160.00 |
| Toronto Raptors | 220.00 |
| Phoenix Suns | 350.00 |
| Orlando Magic | 425.00 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 525.00 |
OKC is the clear title favourite, but the Thunder were pushed to seven games in multiple series last season. The respective No. 2 seeds, the Celtics and Spurs, are next in line.
The Pistons earned the No. 1 seed in the East in one of the most surprising storylines of the 2025-26 season. The Detroit Pistons closed with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They now await an Orlando Magic side that scraped through the Play-In, winning the final elimination game to claim the East No. 8 seed.
Detroit are heavy favourites and rightfully so, a No. 1 seed hosting a Play-In qualifier is the most favourable first-round bracket position available. The Magic's defence-first identity makes them scrappy, but their lack of offensive firepower against a more rounded Pistons team is their undoing.
Pick: Pistons in 5.
| Boston Celtics | Philadelphia 76ers |
|---|---|
| Favourites | Underdogs |
The Celtics enter as the betting second favourites to win the championship at 4.95 on Duelbits. The Boston Celtics had an impressive regular season, most of which was played without Jayson Tatum as he recovered from an Achilles injury, and finished with the second seed in the East.
Tatum's return is the single biggest story in the Eastern bracket. It feels like Steph Curry in 2015 when we weren't fully aware of just how much he warped the geometry of the court, the same could be true of Tatum if he's anywhere close to his pre-injury level.
The 76ers are a dangerous opponent. Philadelphia, when healthy, carry the talent to be competitive against anyone. But the Celtics' depth, home-court advantage, and playoff experience make them heavy favourites.
Expert consensus: Celtics in 5.
Pick: Celtics in 5. Back Boston's title odds at 4.95 as one of the best value outright plays in the East.
| New York Knicks | Atlanta Hawks | Series Handicap |
|---|---|---|
| 1.37 | 3.25 | Knicks -1.5 (1.87) / Hawks +1.5 (1.98) |
This is the most compelling upset alert in the East bracket. New York is the favourite in this series, but the Hawks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the All-Star break. Over that period, only the Spurs, Thunder and Celtics have more wins.
The Hawks caught fire over the second half of the season, vaulting from a Play-In contender all the way into the sixth seed. They are a long team that can give Jalen Brunson trouble, especially with Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker leading their defence at guard. However, they don't have the superstar scorer to turn to late in a close playoff game.
The Knicks have a tough first-round matchup against the scorching Atlanta Hawks, but zoom out and this year actually presents a real opportunity. Jalen Brunson's legacy in New York is tied to playoff results, a flame-out here reshapes the entire franchise direction.
The series handicap at near-evens (+1.5 Hawks at 1.98) is the most interesting bet on the board in the East bracket given Atlanta's recent form.
Pick: Knicks in 6 - but the Hawks +1.5 at 1.98 is excellent value given the series could easily go seven.
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Toronto Raptors |
|---|---|
| 1.17 | 5.35 |
The Raptors secured the No. 5 seed and the final guaranteed playoff spot with a win over the Nets on the final day of the regular season. Cleveland are heavy favourites and the market reflects that at 1.17.
The Cavaliers finished 4th in the East, have the roster depth to manage a seven-game series, and hold home-court advantage. Toronto represent a respectable upset threat, they're athletic, long, and can defend, but the talent gap is significant.
Expert consensus: Cavaliers in 6-7.
Pick: Cavaliers in 6.
The defending champions are the outright title favourites at 1.79 on Duelbits and face the lowest-quality opponent of any top seed. The Suns host the Trail Blazers in the 7-8 game, and after losing that match, Phoenix is eliminated to the play-in loser pool before earning the West No. 8 seed through the Warriors game.
OKC had the best record in the West and enter as heavy favourites against a Phoenix side that had to survive two Play-In games just to get here. Can Wembanyama pull off an all-time performance? That question will come later, for OKC, this first-round matchup is the clearest path imaginable.
Pick: Thunder in 4 or 5. Their championship odds at 1.79 reflect the most likely outcome in the entire tournament.
The Spurs at 4.55 represent the single most compelling value play in the entire championship market. Victor Wembanyama has ascended in warp speed. He picks things up on the fly, to the point that he's looked like a superhero exploring the full extent of his powers over his first three seasons. Down the stretch, Wembanyama hit yet another level, learning how to make his presence felt on literally every possession on both ends of the floor.
Portland are a young, exciting team who earned their Play-In victory over the Suns in impressive fashion, Deni Avdija's 41-point performance showed they have genuine talent. But facing Wembanyama and the No. 2 seed Spurs in their first playoff run is a brutal ask.
One writer believes it has already happened, that Wembanyama is ready to win a title years ahead of schedule, and beat the Nuggets, Thunder and Celtics in the process. Even if you don't go that far, the Spurs advancing past Portland is close to a certainty.
Pick: Spurs in 5. Their championship odds at 4.55 are the best value futures bet on the board if you believe in Wembanyama.
| Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Series Handicap |
|---|---|---|
| 1.29 | 3.75 | Nuggets -1.5 (1.76) / Timberwolves +1.5 (2.10) |
This is the most dangerous first-round matchup for a higher seed in the entire bracket. There might be a surprise here — Minnesota matches up extremely well against Denver, and we've seen them get past the Nuggets in the postseason before.
Denver's championship odds of 10.30 feel modest given their experience, Jokić, Murray, and Gordon remain one of the most cohesive playoff cores in the league. But the Timberwolves' defensive intensity and ability to neutralise Jokić in specific matchups makes this the series with the most genuine upset potential in the West.
The big question looming is a potential second-round showdown between the Nuggets and another West power — but first they must get past Minnesota, which is far from guaranteed.
Pick: Nuggets in 6 - but the Timberwolves +1.5 series handicap at 2.10 is the best value bet in the West first round.
| Houston Rockets | Los Angeles Lakers | Series Handicap |
|---|---|---|
| 1.18 | 5.20 | Rockets -2.5 (1.92) / Lakers +2.5 (1.92) |
The Rockets are heavy series favourites and the market is clear. Houston finished 5th in the West with a young, athletic roster built around Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, and one of the league's better defences.
The Lakers bring LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of the greatest players in NBA history, but enter at 110.00 on the Duelbits championship outright, a reflection of just how much the market discounts their title chances despite the star power. Can LeBron James and Kevin Durant turn back the clock? In a seven-game series, their experience is genuinely valuable. But Houston's youth, athleticism, and depth are significant advantages across a full series.
The series handicap at 1.92 each way (Rockets -2.5 / Lakers +2.5) reflects a market that sees this as a competitive series the Rockets ultimately control. The near-evens price on Lakers +2.5 is worth considering if you believe LeBron and KD's playoff pedigree keeps it within 3 games.
Pick: Houston Rockets in 6. Their title odds at 51.00 are a distant longshot, but the series win at 1.18 is among the surest bets on the first-round board.
| Bet | Market | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics to win NBA title | Outright | 4.95 |
| San Antonio Spurs to win NBA title | Outright | 4.55 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves +1.5 series | Series Handicap | 2.10 |
| Atlanta Hawks +1.5 series | Series Handicap | 1.98 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder to win series | Series Winner | Short favourite |
| Series | Favourite | Underdog |
|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers vs Raptors | Cavaliers 1.17 | Raptors 5.35 |
| Rockets vs Lakers | Rockets 1.18 | Lakers 5.20 |
| Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Nuggets 1.29 | Timberwolves 3.75 |
| Knicks vs Hawks | Knicks 1.37 | Hawks 3.25 |
All other series odds available on Duelbits Sportsbook under NBA Playoffs 2025/26.
When do the 2026 NBA Playoffs start? The first round begins Saturday 18 April 2026. Four Game 1s tip off Saturday, with the remaining series openers on Sunday 19 April. The NBA Finals start June 3 on ABC.
What are the 2026 NBA Playoffs first-round matchups? East: (1) Pistons vs (8) Magic; (2) Celtics vs (7) 76ers; (3) Knicks vs (6) Hawks; (4) Cavaliers vs (5) Raptors. West: (1) Thunder vs (8) Suns; (2) Spurs vs (7) Trail Blazers; (3) Nuggets vs (6) Timberwolves; (4) Rockets vs (5) Lakers.
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 NBA Championship? Oklahoma City Thunder are the outright title favourites at 1.79, followed by the San Antonio Spurs (4.55) and Boston Celtics (4.95).
Who won the NBA Championship last year? The Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2024-25 NBA Championship and enter 2026 as defending champions and West No. 1 seeds.
How does the NBA Playoffs format work? Best-of-seven series across four rounds. Higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (2-2-1-1-1 format). The team that wins four games advances. Continues through Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals.
What is the series handicap bet? A series handicap applies a virtual head start to one team across the whole series. Rockets -2.5 means Houston must win by 3+ games (4-1, 4-0). Lakers +2.5 means LA can lose by up to 2 games (4-2, 4-1) and the bet still wins.
Where can I bet on the 2026 NBA Playoffs? Bet on all 2026 NBA Playoffs games on Duelbits Sportsbook. Navigate to Basketball > NBA. Markets include series winner, series handicap, individual game odds, total points, player props, and championship futures (Outrights).
