The 2026 NBA postseason tips off Saturday and will run through the middle of June. ESPN betting contributors Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander have released their preferred wagers, covering championship futures, Finals MVP markets and every first-round matchup.
Single Favorite Bet Before the Opening Tip
Steve Alexander backs the San Antonio Spurs to capture the title at +500, citing their regular-season dominance over Oklahoma City and the expectation that Victor Wembanyama’s minutes will no longer be limited.
Eric Moody prefers San Antonio to win the Western Conference at +330, noting the club’s third-best net rating and 4-1 record against the top-seeded Thunder.
Jim McCormick points to Boston’s +160 price to win the East, arguing the Celtics face fewer elite opponents than any Western contender.
Eric Karabell selects Boston at –900 to defeat Philadelphia in Round 1, given Joel Embiid’s absence for the 76ers.
Best Value on the Larry O’Brien Trophy
Alexander labels Detroit an attractive long shot at 22-1 after the Pistons posted the East’s best record behind Cade Cunningham.
Karabell echoes that view, questioning why Detroit’s odds trail Cleveland’s and New York’s despite recent postseason results.
Moody singles out the Knicks at 18-1, emphasizing their top-four offensive rating, top-seven defensive rating and the scoring duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
McCormick stays with Boston at +550, arguing the Celtics could face a fatigued Western finalist.
Intriguing Long Shots
Alexander lists the Los Angeles Lakers at 150-1, contingent on the health of Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
McCormick opts for Nikola Jokić at 10-1 to claim Finals MVP, calling the Nuggets center’s season historically significant.
Karabell nominates Minnesota at 100-1 to win the championship, recalling the Timberwolves’ 2024 run to the West finals.
Current Favorites for Finals MVP
Alexander and Karabell both favor Wembanyama at +500, expecting the Spurs rookie to headline a title push.
Moody highlights Jayson Tatum at 11-1, pointing to the forward’s strong return from last year’s Achilles injury.
McCormick positions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at +130, noting Oklahoma City’s +110 championship price and the guard’s central role.
Western Conference – First-Round Picks
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Suns: Moody plays Oklahoma City 4-1 at +205, referencing two regular-season wins by 49 and 27 points and the Thunder’s third-best post-All-Star net rating.
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets: Karabell takes over 5.5 games at –115, while Moody favors Houston 4-2 at +250, citing the Lakers’ injury issues and the Rockets’ top-10 offensive and defensive rankings after the break.
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves: Karabell chooses Anthony Edwards (+130) to score the most total points in the series; Moody likes Denver 4-2 at +450 on the strength of a 12-game winning streak and the Jokic-Murray tandem.
No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Trail Blazers: Alexander projects a San Antonio sweep at +175. Moody and McCormick each propose Deni Avdija to lead the series in points (+145), citing his 24.2 PPG average and 31.0 percent usage rate.
Eastern Conference – First-Round Picks
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 Magic: Karabell takes Detroit at +500 to win the East; Moody plays under 5.5 total games at –110, leaning on the Pistons’ No. 2 defensive rating in their final 10 contests.
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors: Moody expects the series to finish in under 5.5 games (–110). McCormick backs Donovan Mitchell to average 30-plus points (+225), citing Cleveland’s 132 offensive rating when James Harden is on the floor.
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks: Alexander projects more than 5.5 games at –160, noting Atlanta’s 19-5 surge to close the season. McCormick wagers on Nickeil Alexander-Walker (+100) for most three-pointers made, after the guard finished fourth in the league in total threes.
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 76ers: Karabell plays under 5.5 games at –190; Alexander selects Tatum at +350 for most points in the series, while McCormick takes Paul George (+370) to hit the most threes, pointing to his 49.7 percent three-point attempt rate.
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
Source: ESPN
