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Featured Last Updated Apr 14 2026, 3:16 PM

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

Patrick Everson
Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert
10 minute read
NBA Playoff Odds: First Round Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

NBA playoff odds for First Round games are taking shape, with four of the eight matchups on the schedule.

The top two seeds in each conference are awaiting opponents from the play-in round. One of the more intriguing series that's already set in NBA First Round playoff odds: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers.

Here's everything you need to know about the most notable matchups in odds for NBA playoffs first-round games: action, line movement and betting trends. Check back regularly for updates.

Also, be sure to utilize our prediction market apps and Kalshi promo code by clicking on the module below, or our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

Updated on 4/14/26

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2026 NBA Playoffs First Round Odds

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Odds

  • Opening point spread: Knicks -5.5
  • Opening moneyline: Knicks -205/Hawks +170
  • Opening total: Over/Under 217.5 points scored
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET Saturday (Prime)
  • Series Odds: Knicks -290/Hawks +230

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: New York (53-29 SU/42-39-1 ATS) was on a 12-3 run before fully letting off the gas in the regular-season finale, with the No. 3 seed wrapped up. The Knicks were 14.5-point home underdogs vs. Charlotte and lost 110-96.

But New York at least covered and is on a 5-0 ATS upswing.

Atlanta (46-36 SU/44-38 ATS) dropped three of its last four games, falling from the No. 5 seed to No. 6 as it lost a tiebreaker vs. Toronto. Prior to that modest slide, though, the Hawks were on a torrid 18-2 SU/16-4 ATS spree.

DraftKings Sportsbook opened the Knicks -5.5 (-105) for Game 1, then dipped to -4.5 (-115) late Sunday night. That said, early spread play favors New York, at 59% of bets/86% of money, as of 9 p.m. ET Monday.

DK's total opened at 217.5 and fell to 216.5 (Over -115), with 75% of bets on the Over/78% of cash on the Under.

The Hawks and Knicks met three times in the regular season, with New York going 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS.

Western Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Odds

  • Opening point spread: Nuggets -5.5
  • Opening moneyline: Nuggets -225/Timberwolves +185
  • Opening total: Over/Under 230.5 points scored
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (Prime)
  • Series Odds: Nuggets -350/Timberwolves +280

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 3 seed Denver (54-28 SU/44-38 ATS) is the hottest team in the league entering the playoffs, riding a 12-game win streak (5-7 ATS). In Sunday's regular-season finale, the Nuggets dumped No. 2 seed San Antonio 128-118 as 9.5-point road underdogs.

Both the Spurs and Nuggets were resting players.

No. 6 seed Minnesota (49-33 SU/37-45 ATS) won three of its last four SU and ATS. That included a big road win over Houston, 136-132, with the Timberwolves 10-point underdogs.

Denver went 3-1 SU and ATS vs. Minnesota in the regular season. But it's worth noting that two years ago, the T-Wolves knocked out the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, taking Game 7 on the road.

On Sunday night, DraftKings opened Denver -5.5 (-115) for Game 1 and went to -6.5 (-115) in less than 30 minutes. However, as of 4 p.m. ET Monday, spread tickets are close, with a slight Nuggets lean, while 86% of spread money is on the Timberwolves.

The total is pinned to 230.5, with 75% of bets/66% of money on the Over so far.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds

  • Opening point spread: Rockets -4.5
  • Opening moneyline: Rockets -185/Lakers +154
  • Opening total: Over/Under 208.5 points scored
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (Prime)
  • Series Odds: Rockets -750/Lakers +550

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Houston is the No. 5 seed and Los Angeles the No. 4 seed. But with the Lakers wracked by injuries over the past couple weeks, the Rockets are notable road favorites in Game 1 and huge series favorites.

Los Angeles (53-29 SU/45-36-1 ATS) had a strong last couple months of the season, including a 16-2 SU run at one point (13-5 ATS). However, Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) missed the last five games.

Doncic's return date is unknown, and Reaves is expected to miss the first round.

Houston (52-30 SU/36-46 ATS) enters the postseason on a 9-1 SU run (6-4 ATS). The Rockets went 1-2 SU and ATS vs. the Lakers in the regular season, including back-to-back losses at home in mid-March.

But with the Lakers' injury issues, DraftKings opened Houston -4.5 (-115) for Game 1 and on Monday morning climbed to -5.5. Early spread ticket count is 2/1 Rockets, and early spread money is almost entirely Rockets, as of 3:30 p.m. ET Monday.

The total is down to 207.5 from a 208.5 (Under -115) opener, with tickets 3/1 on the Over, but money 5/1 on the Under.

Kalshi Odds for NBA Finals

Kalshi's NBA Finals prediction market prices:

Odds for teams to win the NBA Finals

Check out the favorites in NBA championship futures odds:

Nba Champion Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder Thunder
+115 + +130 + +110 + +120 + +115 + +110 + +110 +  
San Antonio Spurs Spurs
+500 + +450 + +500 + +430 + +550 + +500 + +450 +  
Boston Celtics Celtics
+550 + +550 + +550 + +550 + +550 + +550 + +550 +  
Denver Nuggets Nuggets
+900 + +1200 + +850 + +900 + +1000 + +850 + +900 +  
Cleveland Cavaliers Cavaliers
+1400 + +1200 + +1700 + +1800 + +1100 + +1750 + +1200 +  
New York Knicks Knicks
+1800 + +2000 + +1800 + +2000 + +2200 + +1750 + +1600 +  
Detroit Pistons Pistons
+2000 + +2200 + +2200 + +1600 + +2000 + +2250 + +2000 +  
Houston Rockets Rockets
+6000 + +6600 + +8000 + +6000 + +6000 + +7500 + +6000 +  
Minnesota Timberwolves Timberwolves
+8000 + +4000 + +10000 + +7500 + +8000 + +6000 + +10000 +  
Atlanta Hawks Hawks
+12500 + +12500 + +13000 + +8000 + +12500 + +15000 + +15000 +  
Los Angeles Lakers Lakers
+15000 + +30000 + +15000 + +15000 + +20000 + +15000 + +25000 +  
Philadelphia 76ers 76ers
+17500 + +6600 + +17000 + +15000 + +20000 + +15000 + +15000 +  
Charlotte Hornets Hornets
+15000 + +10000 + +17000 + +15000 + +8000 + +15000 + +15000 +  
Orlando Magic Magic
+25000 + +30000 + +35000 + +40000 + +22500 + +25000 + +25000 +  
Toronto Raptors Raptors
+25000 + +40000 + +35000 + +35000 + +25000 + +25000 + +25000 +  
Phoenix Suns Suns
+60000 + +50000 + +60000 + +50000 + +50000 + +50000 + +50000 +  
LA Clippers Clippers
+60000 + +25000 + +70000 + +40000 + +75000 + +50000 + +50000 +  
Golden State Warriors Warriors
+50000 + +50000 + +100000 + +75000 + +60000 + +100000 + +50000 +  
Miami Heat Heat
+75000 + +30000 + +100000 + +75000 + +75000 + +100000 + +50000 +  
Portland Trail Blazers Trail Blazers
+150000 + +100000 + +200000 + +100000 + +60000 + +250000 + +60000 +  

See All

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Patrick Everson

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
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