NBA Playoff Series Odds – Opening Series Prices for Cavs/Raptors, Knicks/Hawks
By Sascha Paruk in NBA Basketball
Published:
- Four of eight first-round NBA playoff matchups have been set
- The other four will be determined after the Play-In Tournament
- See the opening series prices for all 2026 NBA first-round series
The 2026 NBA playoffs will get underway in earnest on April 18. The #1 through #6 seeds in each conference have been set. The #7 seeds will be determined by Tuesday’s Play-In games, with the #8 seeds finalized on Friday, April 17.
As it is, one-half of the 2026 NBA playoff bracket has been set. In the East, the #4 Cleveland Cavaliers will face the #5 Toronto Raptors, and the #3 New York Knicks will meet the #6 Atlanta Hawks. The West matchups have yet to be cemented
Sportsbooks have opened the NBA first-round series odds for the first two matchups
NBA Playoff Series Odds
Odds as of April 12 at DraftKings.
Cavaliers vs Raptors Series Preview
Cleveland is a massive -900 favorite to bounce the Raptors in the first round, despite Toronto winning all three regular-season meetings. That includes two road victories in Cleveland has betting underdogs.
CLE vs TOR H2H Results
The Cavs will host Games 1 and 2, plus 5 and 7 if necessary. The full schedule for the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs has yet to be released.
Knicks vs Hawks Series Preview
The Knicks have opened as -360 favorites against the Hawks. New York took two of three from Atlanta during the regular season, winning both games in ATL but dropping their lone home game at MSG.
NYK vs ATL H2H Results
The Knicks will host Games 1 and 2, plus 5 and 7 if necessary.
Lakers vs Rockets Series Preview
Los Angeles is the only higher seed to open as an underdog. The injury-riddled Lakers are +450 to beat the Rockets in their best-of-seven first-round series.
LAL vs HOU H2H Results
The Lakers did take two of three during the regular season but that was under much different circumstances, health-wise. Currently, Luka Doncic is battling a grade 2 hamstring tear and Austin Reaves is out with an oblique injury. LeBron James (foot) is far from 100%, as well.
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Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
