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

The NBA playoffs tips off today with Game 1 across four postseason series, and 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 weekend 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: 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

📅 NBA playoffs: Sunday, April 19

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

Preview publishing soon.

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

Preview publishing soon.

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

Preview publishing soon.

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

Preview publishing soon.

🏀 More NBA playoff predictions

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

• NBA Finals odds entering playoffs
• NBA player props today (Saturday)
• Raptors vs. Cavaliers player props
• Timberwolves vs. Nuggets player props
• Hawks vs. Knicks player props
• Rockets vs. Lakers player props