In an NBA playoffs that entering Wednesday had seen the underdogs win half of the games, normalcy was restored for a night with the No. 1 seeds in action. Detroit and Oklahoma City both took care of business.
All eight first-round series have completed two games, which means changes of venue for every series. Only three teams have 2-0 series leads: Oklahoma City, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers.
On Thursday, the New York Knicks head to Atlanta, Cleveland goes for a 3-0 lead and the Denver-Minnesota rivalry continues.
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 playoffs
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: 1 p.m. ET, Saturday
Series odds: Pistons -255, Magic +210
The Pistons entered Wednesday’s Game 2 having lost 11 straight home playoff games. That’s the kind of streak that should be impossible.
Richard Hamilton was in attendance on Wednesday. Hamilton, who is 48 years old and has been retired for 13 years, was playing for the Pistons the last time Detroit won a home playoff game in 2008.
That’s why the Pistons’ 30-3 run to start the third quarter must have been so cathartic for Pistons fans. The game was tied at halftime, but suddenly the Pistons held a 27-point lead. Detroit won by 15.
The series is tied as it heads to Orlando. The Pistons are small favorites on the road for Game 3.
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 playoffs
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Phoenix Suns
Thunder lead series 2-0
Game 3: 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday
Series odds: Thunder -20000, Suns +6000
The Thunder were favored by 17.5 points in a playoff game on Wednesday, which is a crazy thing to think about. The Suns won 45 games in the regular season. They aren’t scrubs. Yet, the Thunder are a dominant force, especially at home.
OKC didn’t cover in Game 2, winning by 13 after Phoenix made a rally to get within 10 points with less than four minutes remaining. Still, the Thunder are a virtual lock to advance in the betting odds.
The Thunder are “only” favored by 9.5 for Game 3 in Phoenix.
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.
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