The NBA playoffs are getting good. Five road teams have picked up wins, which could signify longer series or even upsets. Favorites are just 7-7 straight up so far in these playoffs.
On Tuesday, it was Philadelphia and Portland joining Orlando, Atlanta and Minnesota with road victories.
In Wednesday’s games, the top seeds are in action. Oklahoma City is heavily favored to go up 2-0 against Phoenix, while Detroit is desperate for a win to even the series against Orlando.
This is a look at the odds for all eight first-round series in the NBA playoffs. It will be updated daily throughout the playoffs, as the odds to win each series will shift with results.
Eastern Conference playoffsNo. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
Magic lead series 1-0
Game 2: 7 p.m. ET, Wednesday
Series odds: Pistons -190, Magic +160
If there were already questions about the Pistons as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, they weren’t answered in Sunday’s series opener against Orlando. The Magic were the only road team to win in the eight Game 1s.
Losing at home is one thing, but Detroit never led in Game 1, which is about as alarming as a playoff opener can be.
Orlando had all five starters score at least 16 points. Detroit only had two players reach double figures in scoring. Cade Cunningham did his thing with 39 points, but didn’t get enough help.
Detroit is still favored to advance, but it’s closer to a coin flip.
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 7 p.m. ET, Friday
Series odds: Celtics -500, 76ers +380
Philadelphia won on the road in Game 2 as a 13.5-point underdog. The playoffs have had a fair share of upsets so far, but this is the biggest on paper. Now the series is even and going to Philly.
After having tough shooting nights in Game 1, VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points in a 111-97 win. Edgecombe, a rookie, went from 13 points and 0-for-5 from 3-point range in Game 1 to 30 points and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc in Game 2.
Jaylen Brown poured in 36 points, and Jayson Tatum was an assist shy of a triple-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists), but no other Celtic reached double figures in scoring.
This is all with Joel Embiid still out. While Embiid continues to work his way back from appendicitis, the 76ers are hoping to hang in the series long enough for Embiid to come back.
Boston is still favored to advance and in Game 3 on the road, but the 76ers will have hope of pulling off the upset of the Eastern Conference favorites.
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 7 p.m. ET, Thursday
Series odds: Knicks -185, Hawks +155
The hush that fell over Madison Square Garden as the Hawks pulled ahead in the final minute of Game 2 was chilling. CJ McCollum went off for 32 points, and the Knicks didn’t punish him for missing two free throws in the final seconds of a one-point game.
Atlanta had one lead in the first 45 minutes, and it was by a single point. New York led by as many as 14 points in the second half. It felt like a mostly comfortable, business-as-usual game for the Knicks until it wasn’t. Atlanta took the lead with an 11-0 run in the final five minutes, and the Knicks scored just six points in the final five-plus minutes.
After Atlanta’s 107-106 win, the series is tied and now the Knicks will have to win on the road to advance. New York is still favored to advance, but it’s close with the Knicks at -185 on DraftKings, implying a nearly 65 percent chance of winning the series.
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
Cavaliers lead series 2-0
Game 3: 8 p.m. ET, Thursday
Series odds: Cavaliers -1600, Raptors +900
Entering the playoffs, it wasn’t entirely clear how the remade Cavs would jell in big games. Well, how does 83 combined points from Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley sound?
That trio got whatever it wanted, combining to shoot 33-for-50 from the field in a 115-105 Game 2 win. Mitchell has scored at least 30 points in both games.
The Raptors will have to find a way to stop, or at least limit, Cleveland’s best players after failing to so far. Having Brandon Ingram shoot better than 3-for-15, as he did in Game 2, would help, too.
After Cleveland held serve twice at home, the series shifts to Canada. A Cavs sweep is the most likely series outcome on DraftKings at +165.
Western Conference playoffsNo. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Phoenix Suns
Thunder lead series 1-0
Game 2: 9:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday
Series odds: Thunder -20000, Suns +3000
It was business as usual for the Thunder in Game 1 on Sunday. Oklahoma City won 119-84 in a game that never appeared in doubt.
The Thunder raced out to a 15-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Phoenix never got near single digits the rest of the way.
OKC is already in virtual-lock territory to win this series. The -20000 odds imply a 99.5 percent chance that the Thunder advance.
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 10:30 p.m. ET, Friday
Series odds: Spurs -550, Trail Blazers +400
This is the nightmare scenario for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama bounced his head on the floor twice in Tuesday’s Game 2 and left with a concussion after playing just 12 minutes. It’s unclear how long he will be out, but it’s a massive shift in the series, especially after the Trail Blazers won to even the series.
The Spurs were down by two in the second quarter when Wemby left and lost 106-103. De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle all had off shooting nights, going a combined 19-for-52 from the field and 3-for-14 from 3-point range. Everything is harder on both ends without the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.
Scoot Henderson went off for a season-high 31 points, pouring in 5-of-9 3-pointers, in Portland’s victory.
San Antonio is still a heavy favorite to advance. Wemby likely won’t miss the entire series with a concussion, but Portland has a great opportunity to put the Spurs in a hole with two home games coming up.
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 9:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
Series odds: Nuggets -240, Timberwolves +200
The Nuggets had a 17-0 run in the first quarter of Game 2 that built a 13-point lead before Nikola Jokić took a shot. Denver also had three 4-point plays in a span of four possessions in the first quarter. And yet, Minnesota won the game and evened the series.
Denver’s great start resulted in a 19-point lead, but before halftime, Minnesota turned things around and led by as many as eight. The second half featured both teams coming up with big plays until Denver went cold down the stretch.
It looks like we could be in for another doozy of a series between these two teams. Denver is still favored to advance, but Minnesota showed it should be a close and very entertaining series.
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
Lakers lead series 2-0
Game 3: 8 p.m. ET, Friday
Series odds: Lakers -135, Rockets +115
Kevin Durant returned for Houston in Game 2 while Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves still watched from the bench for the Lakers. The Lakers won anyway and are now favored to advance.
The 2-0 series lead for LA gives the Lakers the luxury of being able to be patient with their missing scorers. Even if LA loses both in Houston, 2-2 with a home-court advantage is still a decent spot for the Lakers. The pressure is on Houston to come back.
The Lakers led by 15 in the first half, Houston came back and then the Lakers rebuilt a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and held off the Rockets down the stretch. LeBron James continues to defy the aging process with a 28-point night. Plus, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard combined for 48 points. Durant scored 23 points, but had nine turnovers in the loss.
It’s been ugly so far for Houston, but home court could flip things.