🏀 NBA Playoff Series Odds: First-Round Prices & Market Projections for Every Matchup

The first four matchups for the NBA playoffs are set with the rest of the playoff bracket awaiting the results of the six games in the play-in tournament. Below, I break down the NBA playoff series odds with prices for every first-round matchup based on the latest market projections from prediction market apps ahead of Saturday's series openers.

📊 Raptors vs. Cavaliers series odds

The Cavaliers opened with a 78% chance to win this series, and that's ticked up since trading began on Sunday with nearly $20,000 in volume. It's the second-most lopsided series on the board despite these teams finishing within six games of each other in the Eastern Conference standings with the Raptors owning a 3-0 record in the season series.

Clearly, the market isn't buying those regular-season results ahead of this best-of-seven series, especially since James Harden - whom the Cavs added at the trade deadline - didn't play in any of those losses. Cleveland went 11-3 down the stretch with Harden and Donovan Mitchell clicking, so I'd expect this wide margin to hold through Saturday.

📊 Timberwolves vs. Nuggets series odds

These teams were separated by five games in the regular season, but the Nuggets enter Round 1 as the heavy favorites over the Timberwolves with a 76% chance to win this first-round series behind nearly $50,000 in trading volume as of Monday evening.

The massive gap here is likely directly related to the uncertain health of Anthony Edwards, who missed 11 of his team's final 14 games as he recovers from a knee injury. Meanwhile, Denver closed the season on a 12-game heater with Nikola Jokic playing some of his best basketball all year. I could see the market moving toward Minnesota with Edwards back, but it could be a trap if he's not fully healthy.

📊 Hawks vs. Knicks series odds

One of the best rivalries in the Eastern Conference adds a new chapter this week with the Knicks opening as clear favorites to beat the Hawks in the first round - boasting a 70% win probability behind roughly $36,000 in volume as of Monday. That's up 3% since this market opened on Sunday evening, and we could see more action to come.

It feels like the public is sleeping on a Hawks team without any household names, though Jalen Johnson was an All-Star this year and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is an emerging force in the backcourt, scoring 36 points when these teams met earlier this month. This market could continue to move in New York's direction, but I'd buy the dip on Atlanta.

📊 Rockets vs. Lakers series odds

This could be the last time we see LeBron James and Kevin Durant share the basketball court, which is likely why this series has already drawn a whopping $370,000 in trading volume. That's nearly four times as much action as the other three series combined.

The early returns heavily favor the Rockets, who feature an 83% chance to win this series thanks in large part to the injury concerns for the Lakers. We likely won't see Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves in the first round, which means James will have to do the heavy lifting in what could be the final postseason series of his career.

🏀 More NBA playoff predictions

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

• NBA Finals odds entering the playoffs
• Heat vs. Hornets prediction (April 14)
• Heat vs. Hornets player props (April 14)
• Trail Blazers vs. Suns prediction (April 14)
• Trail Blazers vs. Suns player props (April 14)