NBA Playoff Odds: First Round Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

9 minute read

NBA playoff odds for the first round are drawing action and are on the move. Eight matchups create plenty of opportunities for bettors.

Arguably the most intriguing matchup in 2025 NBA playoff odds: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers.

Here's everything you need to know about NBA odds for first-round games and series: action, line movement and betting trends. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

2025 NBA First Round Playoff Odds

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Odds

• Opening point spread: Cavaliers -10.5
• Opening moneyline: Celtics -520/Magic +390
• Opening total: Over/Under 224.5 points scored
• Time: 7 p.m. ET Sunday (TNT)
• Series Odds: Cavaliers -2500/Heat +1000

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET SUNDAY: An hour before tipoff, Cleveland is -12.5 (-105) in BetMGM Nevada's NBA playoff odds. In fact, the number hasn't moved off Cavs -12.5 since opening Friday night, with only juice adjustments so far.

"On the spread, it's 1.5/1 tickets and money on the Cavaliers. They are playing the Heat moneyline, 3/1 tickets and 3/1 money at +550," BetMGM Nevada's Scott Shelton said. "The Cavs winning and the Heat covering is our best decision."

The total has been steady, as well, at 215.5. But there's a decision, no question.

"They're all over the Over, 7/1 tickets and 95% of the money," Shelton said.

UPDATE 10:45 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Cleveland (64-18 SU/48-33-1 ATS) grabbed the No. 1 seed in the East, outpacing Boston by three games. The Cavaliers were red-hot much of the season, most recently from Feb. 5-March 14, when they went 16-0 SU.

The Cavs slowed down over the final month, but still got the top seed and posted the second-best ATS mark in the NBA.

Miami (39-45 SU/41-42-1 ATS) finished 10th in the East, just enough to make the play-in round. And the Heat took advantage of it, posting two wins to grab the eighth and final playoff spot.

On Wednesday night, Miami beat Chicago 109-90 as a 2-point road underdog. Tonight, the Heat knocked off Atlanta 123-114 in overtime laying 2 points on the road.

The Cavs and Heat had three regular-season meetings, with Cleveland going 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS.

DraftKings opened Game 1 at Cavs -10.5 in the NBA playoff odds First Round market. That didn't last long tonight, quickly advancing to Cleveland -11/-11.5, then getting to -12 within an hour.

Early spread tickets are running almost 2/1 and early spread cash beyond 9/1 on the Cavaliers.

The total plummeted, with DK opening at 224.5 and falling to 214 within five minutes. It then rebounded to 216.5, and it's now stable at 215. Ticket count is 2/1 on the Over, but money is 2.5/1 on the Under.

Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks Odds

• Opening point spread: Knicks -7
• Opening moneyline: Knicks -298/Pistons +240
• Opening total: Over/Under 221.5 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Monday (TNT)
• Series Odds: Knicks -650/Pistons +450 (Knicks lead 1-0)

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SUNDAY: New York (52-31 SU/41-41-1 ATS) trailed Detroit 98-90 with nine minutes left in Game 1 Saturday. Then the Knicks went on a 21-0 tear and never looked back, winning 123-112 as 7-point home favorites.

Detroit (44-39 SU/42-39-2 ATS) blew a golden opportunity to post an upset and steal home-court advantage. Instead, the Pistons slipped to 2-7 SU and ATS in their last nine games.

For Game 2, DraftKings opened the Knicks -7 in NBA First Round playoff odds. After about an hour Saturday night, New York dipped to -6.5, where the line remains this afternoon. It's two-way spread play with a lean toward the Knicks, at 54% of bets/51% of money.

The total went from 221.5 to 222 Saturday night, then back to 221.5 this afternoon. The Over is seeing 66% of early bets/93% of early money at DraftKings.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers Odds

• Opening point spread: Pacers -6.5
• Opening moneyline: Pacers -218/Bucks +180
• Opening total: Over/Under 226.5 points scored
• Time: 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (NBA TV)
• Series Odds: Pacers -240/Bucks +195 (Pacers lead 1-0)

UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Indiana (51-32 SU/37-45-1 ATS) built a 24-point halftime lead en route to a 117-98 rout of Milwaukee in Game 1 Saturday. The Pacers cashed as 6.5-point favorites and are 14-3 SU in their last 17 games.

Milwaukee (48-35 SU/43-38-2 ATS) got no closer than a dozen after halftime, at 107-95 midway through the fourth quarter. The loss halted an 8-0 SU/7-1 ATS run by the Bucks.

DraftKings pegged Indiana 6.5-point chalk to open for Game 2. But within a few hours Saturday, that line slid to Pacers -6/-5.5/-5, before stabilizing at -4.5.

Part of that move could be due to Milwaukee star Damian Lillard's possible return from a blood clot. Lillard has been out since March 18. Early spread tickets are running dead even, but 83% of early spread dollars are on Milwaukee.

DK opened the total at 226.5, bottomed out at 225 Saturday afternoon and is now out to 227.5. Ticket count is almost even, but 96% of early cash is on the Over.

Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics Odds

• Opening point spread: Celtics -11.5
• Opening moneyline: Celtics -550/Magic +410
• Opening total: Over/Under 212.5 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday (ABC)
• Series Odds: Celtics -5000/Magic +1600

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SUNDAY: With tipoff 30 minutes out, Boston is laying 12.5 points at Borgata Sports, down a point from Friday's -13.5 opener. But betting is light so far in this NBA playoff first-round odds market.

"Much like the Grizzlies-Thunder game, there's not a ton of action on the spread. The Celtics are in a lot of parlays," Borgata sportsbook director Tom Gable said. "The late game tonight, Warriors-Rockets, has more handle on it than the other three games combined."

Borgata opened the total at 205.5 and is now at 205.

"Small decision on the total. We will need the Under," Gable said.

UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: The Celtics hit BetMGM's NBA playoff odds first-round market as hefty 14.5-point favorites. Two days from Game 1, Boston is 13.5, and early spread play is heavy to Orlando.

Ticket count is almost 5/1 and money beyond 9/1 on the Magic.

The total opened at 205.5 and is now 205.5 (Over -115). Tickets are running almost 5/1 and money 6/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Boston (61-21 SU/38-43-1 ATS) got the No. 2 seed in the East with the NBA's third-best overall record. The Celtics enter the postseason on a 19-3 SU spree, though they're a more modest 13-9 ATS in that stretch.

Orlando (42-41 SU/41-41-1 ATS) finished seventh in the East, then had to win a play-in game Tuesday night to secure that seed. The Magic rolled over Atlanta 120-95 as 6-point home favorites. Orlando is 6-1 SU/5-2 ATS in its last seven games.

The Celtics and Magic had three regular-season meetings, with Orlando actually going 2-1 SU and ATS. But both those wins were at home.

DraftKings opened Boston as hefty 11.5-point chalk in NBA playoff first-round odds. Within minutes Tuesday night, the Celtics jumped to -13.5, then later got to -14. Early today, the line went to Boston -14.5.

But early spread play isn't that lopsided, at 53% of bets/65% of money on the Celtics.

The total is an even bigger mover, dropping from a 212.5 opener to 207 within a few hours. Then it kept falling today, down to 205 by early afternoon. Practically all the action is on the Under, at 97% of bets/86% of money.

Western Conference

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets Odds

• Opening point spread: Warriors -1
• Opening moneyline: Warriors -115/Rockets -105
• Opening total: Over/Under 219 points scored
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET Sunday (TNT)
• Series Odds: Warriors -200/Rockets +165

UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: BetMGM opened the Rockets as modest 1.5-point home favorites, and that's where the line sits tonight. Early spread play is solidly on the short underdog Warriors, at 68% of bets/73% of money.

Golden State is also popular on the moneyline, taking 77% of bets/89% of cash.

The total opened at 214.5 and is now 213.5, with 68% of bets/73% of dollars on the Over.

UPDATE 9 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Golden State (49-34 SU/41-39-3 ATS) finished seventh in the West, leading to a play-in game Tuesday night. The Warriors held off Memphis 121-116 to keep the No. 7 seed, but failed to cover as 6.5-point home favorites.

Houston (52-30 SU/42-38-2 ATS) claimed the No. 3 seed, yet is a slim home underdog in Game 1 and an underdog in the series. From March 6-April 6, the Rockets went on a 15-2 SU tear (10-7 ATS). But Houston then lost its final three regular-season games SU and ATS.

The Rockets and Warriors met five times in the regular season. Golden State went 3-2 SU/4-1 ATS in those matchups.

On Tuesday night, DraftKings opened the Warriors -1. The line has since jumped the fence a couple times, to Rockets -1 and back to Warriors -1. Golden State also touched -1.5 a couple times and is now -1 again. Early spread play is all Rockets, with tickets 6/1-plus and money beyond 9/1.

The total opened at 219 and almost immediately plunged to 214.5. It got as low as 212 this afternoon and is now 212.5. That said, the Over is seeing 88% of early bets/56 of early dollars.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Odds

• Opening point spread: Nuggets -2
• Opening moneyline: Nuggets -162/Clippers +136
• Opening total: Over/Under 219.5 points scored
• Time: 10 p.m. ET Monday (TNT)
• Series Odds: Nuggets -155/Clippers +130 (Nuggets lead 1-0)

UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Denver (51-32 SU/38-44-1 ATS) trailed Los Angeles 51-36 midway through the second quarter of Saturday's Game 1. But the Nuggets ultimately took the Clippers to overtime, then won 112-110 laying 2.5 points at home.

Los Angeles (50-33 SU/46-36-1 ATS) were among the hottest teams in the league entering the postseason. The Clippers were on runs of 18-3 SU/15-6 ATS before blowing the double-digit lead and losing at Denver.

DraftKings opened Game 2 at Nuggets -2, then made a stop at -1 before jumping the fence to Clippers -1 Saturday night. L.A. briefly touched -1.5 this afternoon before returning to -1 in NBA playoff odds.

The Nuggets are taking 57% of early spread tickets, while 72% of early spread money is on the Clippers.

The total opened at 219.5, fell to 218 by Saturday night and is now at 217.5. Ticket count is 3/1 on the Over, but money is 2/1 on the Under.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds

• Opening point spread: Lakers -5
• Opening moneyline: Lakers -205/Timberwolves +170
• Opening total: Over/Under 217.5 points scored
• Time: 10 p.m. ET Tuesday (TNT)
• Series Odds: Timberwolves -150/Lakers +125 (T-Wolves lead 1-0)

UPDATE 4 P.M. ET SUNDAY: No. 6 seed Minnesota (50-33 SU/40-42-1 ATS) sprung a Game 1 upset on No. 3 seed Los Angeles. The Timberwolves, 4.5-point road underdogs, stunningly led by double digits most of the second half in a 117-95 blowout Saturday.

Minnesota is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games (7-3 ATS).

Los Angeles (50-33 SU/45-36-2 ATS) continued its middling play over the last six weeks. The Lakers are 11-11 SU/10-11-1 ATS in their last 22 games.

For Game 2, DraftKings Sportsbook opened the Lakers -5 in NBA playoff odds. Within a few minutes Saturday night, L.A. nudged to 4.5, but rebounded to -5 (-115) shortly thereafter. This afternoon, the Lakers went to -5.5, and L.A. is seeing 54% of early spread bets/88% of early spread money.

The total opened at 217.5 and quickly dropped to 215, with multiple stops along the way Saturday night. It's now down to 214, with 84% of bets on the Over/56% of cash on the Under.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Opening point spread: Thunder -14.5
• Opening moneyline: Thunder -1050/Grizzlies +675
• Opening total: Over/Under 230 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (TNT)
• Series Odds: Thunder -4000/Grizzlies +1500

UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Oklahoma City (69-14 SU/56-23-4 ATS) put up a Game 1 performance that demonstrated why it led the NBA on the floor and at the betting window. The Thunder smoked Memphis 131-80 giving 13 points at home today.

OKC is 16-2 SU and ATS in its last 18 games.

Memphis (49-36 SU/43-41-1 ATS) was down a dozen after the first quarter, and it got much worse from there. The Grizzlies are 0-5 SU and ATS vs. Oklahoma City this season, losing all five outings by at least 13 points.

DraftKings opened OKC -14.5 for Game 2 in NBA playoff first-round odds. The line quickly went to -15, and in the very early going, practically all spread action is on the Thunder.

The total nudged from 230 to 229.5, with 58% of early tickets/79% of early money on the Under.

NBA Playoff Picks & Predictions

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Odds for teams to win the NBA Finals

Check out the favorites in NBA championship futures odds:

Nba Champion Odds

Time	Bet365	BetMGM	DraftKings	Caesars	ESPNBet	FanDuel	BallyBet	RiversCasino
	›	›	›	›	›	›	›	›
Thunder	+160	+165	+160	+165	+165	+165	+150	+150
Celtics	+190	+200	+195	+195	+190	+185	+175	+175
Cavaliers	+600	+600	+600	+600	+600	+500	+500	+500
Warriors	+1800	+1500	+1600	+1600	+1500	+2200	+2000	+2000
Lakers	+2000	+1600	+2000	+1800	+1500	+2200	+2000	+2000
Clippers	+3500	+3500	+3000	+3500	+3300	+3700	+3000	+3000
Knicks	+2500	+2800	+3000	+3000	+3000	+2900	+2500	+2500
Timberwolves	+3300	+3500	+3500	+3000	+3300	+3400	+3000	+3000
See All
Nuggets	+3000	+2500	+4000	+3500	+2800	+3500	+3000	+3000
Rockets	+6500	+6600	+7000	+7500	+8000	+6000	+6000	+6000
Bucks	+12500	+12500	+7500	+10000	+15000	+15000	+15000	+15000
Pacers	+6000	+6600	+7500	+7500	+7500	+6000	+6000	+6000
Grizzlies	+50000	+100000	+35000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+50000	+50000
Pistons	+50000	+50000	+80000	+50000	+50000	+65000	+50000	+50000
Heat	+75000	+75000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000
Magic	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000	+100000

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson