🏀 NBA Playoff Predictions 2026: Series Picks, Best Bets & Odds for Every 1st-Round Matchup

With the second day of the NBA playoffs offering postseason basketball from 76ers vs. Celtics at 1 p.m. ET all the way through Trail Blazers vs. Spurs tonight in the 9 p.m. ET tipoff, I'm breaking it all down with our NBA playoff predictions featuring my series picks and best bets for every first-round matchup, along with our best player props for Game 1. We'll be updating this page throughout the day with our picks for every series.

🏀 NBA playoff series predictions

NBA playoff odds courtesy of our best sports betting sites; subject to change.

📅 NBA playoffs: Sunday, April 19

76ers vs. Celtics (1 PM ET, ABC)

"Boston needs to take care of business early in the series to avoid the disaster scenario of Embiid returning and Tatum waning ahead of a Game 6 in Philly or Game 7 at home. I don't think we reach that point, because the Celtics' 1-2 punch remains one of the best in basketball and Boston's size should overwhelm a shorthanded Sixers lineup down low. I'm expecting Maxey to go nuclear once or twice, but the C's should finish the job in Game 5 at home."

➡️ 76ers vs. Celtics series prediction & best bets

Suns vs. Thunder (3:30 PM ET, ABC)

"Oklahoma City won three of four regular-season meetings against Phoenix - two of them by 27 and 49 points - and the Suns' only win was a 3-point home victory back in January during OKC's midseason lull. The Thunder swept the Pelicans and Grizzlies in the first round over the last two seasons and should make it three straight against a taxed Phoenix team that doesn't match up well on paper. Booker and Green are the type of scorers who can catch fire and steal a game, but the Thunder's roster is specifically built to frustrate perimeter shooters and prevent comfortable looks. This will be a quick series."

➡️ Suns vs. Thunder series prediction & best bets

Magic vs. Pistons (6:30 PM ET, NBC)

"I wouldn't be surprised if this series goes anywhere from four to seven games, but I'd be awfully surprised if Detroit doesn't ultimately close it out at home in front of a fanatical crowd that has been waiting almost two decades for a series win. Cunningham is the best player in this series by a wide margin, especially with how Banchero is playing, and Orlando's streaky shooting is a tough recipe to win more than a game against one of the best perimeter defenses in the league."

➡️ Magic vs. Pistons series prediction & best bets

Trail Blazers vs. Spurs (9 PM ET, NBC)

"San Antonio should advance in this matchup, but I think Portland makes it a series. The Blazers have the type of length and depth to throw defenders at Wemby and force him to work across what will likely be an extended workload in the postseason, and their arsenal of role players can steal a game or two at Moda Center in the first series there since 2021. I'd be pretty shocked by a series upset, but the Spurs will need to earn it."

➡️ Trail Blazers vs. Spurs series prediction & best bets

📅 NBA playoffs: Saturday, April 18

See the live series odds for every first-round matchup in the 2026 NBA playoffs.

Raptors vs. Cavaliers (1 PM ET, Prime Video)

"Even though the Raptors won all three games in this season series, the Cavaliers are the better team on paper and especially since the Harden trade. If they can control the style of play - slowing it down offensively to pick apart Toronto's defense in the pick and roll - and limit the Raptors' transition opportunities, this feels like a short series. Toronto should steal one at home behind a frenetic crowd at Scotiabank Arena, but Donovan Mitchell has a history of playoff heroism; I trust him and Harden over these young Raps in Round 1."

➡️ Raptors vs. Cavaliers series prediction & best bets

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets (3:30 PM ET, Prime Video)

"If Edwards was fully healthy, I would approach this series differently. But it's hard for me to watch the Nuggets roll into the playoffs looking like the fully realized version of what we've been waiting to see ever since their title run and bet against them. The T-Wolves need Edwards to put on the cape to have a chance against this team, and this doesn't feel like the year in which that happens. Minnesota's defense will play aggressively and could overwhelm Denver for a game (or two), but I expect this to end in five games."

➡️ Timberwolves vs. Nuggets series prediction & best bets

Hawks vs. Knicks (6 PM ET, Prime Video)

"I am seriously tempted to pick the Hawks to win this series given their athleticism and Johnson's brilliance down the stretch. That's why I suspect Atlanta will pick off two games at home and could even push this to seven games, especially if they can steal one at MSG. Yet Towns' advantage down low is tough to ignore against a Hawks frontcourt that isn't exactly built to stop him, and Brunson always finds a way to elevate his game in the postseason. This isn't a walkover matchup by any means, but the Knicks should hold on."

➡️ Hawks vs. Knicks series prediction & best bets

Rockets vs. Lakers (8:30 PM ET, ABC)

"I haven't seen many others calling for the outright sweep, but I'm skeptical that the Lakers have enough firepower to keep pace with a Rockets team firing on all cylinders to end the regular season with decided advantages at just about every position on the court. Houston dominated the only matchup between these teams without Doncic on the floor, and that'll prove to be the difference in what should be a quick series."

➡️ Rockets vs. Lakers series prediction & best bets

🏀 More NBA playoff predictions

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs.

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