The NBA postseason is closing in on the end of the first round, with 14 teams still battling for a spot in the conference semifinals. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are the only two teams that have advanced out of the first round so far.
Oklahoma City now awaits the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers–Houston Rockets series, and the Spurs are awaiting the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Below is the current game count for the first round of the 2026 NBA postseason.
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic — Magic lead 3–2
- Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers — Celtics lead 3–2
- New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks — Knicks lead 3–2
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors — Cleveland leads 3–2
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns — Thunder win 4–0
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets — Lakers lead 3–2
- Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — Timberwolves lead 3–2
- San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers — Spurs win 4–1
Read along to learn more about betting online with 18+ NBA sportsbooks and how game lines and futures dominate the postseason odds boards.
Postseason Game Lines
One of the most popular ways to bet on the NBA playoffs is through game lines, which include the point spread, money line (win odds), and total (over/under). The playoffs bring together the top teams from each conference, all competing for a chance to reach the NBA Finals.
Teams are seeded based on their regular-season performance, with higher seeds earning home-court advantage—giving them the edge of hosting more games in a best-of-seven series.
Below are the current game line odds from Bovada for the first round of the playoffs.
April 30, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Spread: BOS -6.0 (-115) | PHI +6.0 (-105)
- Moneyline: BOS -245 | PHI +205
- Total: O213.0 (-110) | U213.0 (-110)
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Spread: NY -2.5 (-110) | ATL +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: NY -150 | ATL +130
- Total: O214.5 (-110) | U214.5 (-110)
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Spread: DEN -6.0 (-110) | MIN +6.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: DEN -235 | MIN +195
- Total: O225.5 (-110) | U225.5 (-110)
May 1, 2026 – 4:00 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
- Spread: CLE -4.0 (-110) | TOR +4.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: CLE -175 | TOR +150
- Total: O219.5 (-110) | U219.5 (-110)
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
- Spread: DET -3.0 (-110) | ORL +3.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: DET -150 | ORL +130
- Total: O211.0 (-110) | U211.0 (-110)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
- Spread: LAL +4.0 (-105) | HOU -4.0 (-115)
- Moneyline: LAL +150 | HOU -175
- Total: O206.5 (-110) | U206.5 (-110)
Postseason NBA Futures
Another popular way to bet on the NBA is with futures and postseason futures. Future odds are typically available year-round, but they change significantly as the postseason approaches. The odds will also update as the playoffs move through the rounds.
Below are a select few of the odds from Bovada’s online sportsbook for the 2026 NBA playoffs.
NBA Championship 2025-26
- Oklahoma City Thunder -115
- San Antonio Spurs +425
- Boston Celtics +500
- Cleveland Cavaliers +1800
- Los Angeles Lakers +2000
- Denver Nuggets +2700
- New York Knicks +2800
- Detroit Pistons +5000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +30000
- Orlando Magic +30000
- Philadelphia 76ers +30000
- Houston Rockets +40000
- Atlanta Hawks +50000
- Toronto Raptors +75000
Eastern Conference 2025-26 – Conference Winner
- Boston Celtics +110
- Cleveland Cavaliers +280
- New York Knicks +500
- Detroit Pistons +800
- Orlando Magic +3000
- Atlanta Hawks +5500
- Philadelphia 76ers +6000
- Toronto Raptors +12500
Western Conference 2025-26 – Conference Winner
- Oklahoma City Thunder -200
- San Antonio Spurs +250
- Los Angeles Lakers +1400
- Denver Nuggets +1800
- Houston Rockets +15000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +15000
How To Make Smart Bets On The NBA Finals
Making smart bets on the NBA finals comes down to going beyond the surface and understanding context. Instead of just picking the better team, pay close attention to matchups, injuries, recent form, and how teams perform under playoff pressure. The postseason often slows down, which can impact totals, and home-court advantage tends to matter more in tightly contested series.
It’s also important to track line movement and avoid chasing public-heavy picks, as popular teams can be overpriced. Sticking to a consistent strategy, managing your bankroll, and focusing on value rather than just winners will give you a much better chance of long-term success.
