The 2026 NBA Playoffs officially tip off on Saturday, April 18. Sixteen teams will compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a best-of-seven series format. For basketball fans in Canada, all eyes are on the Toronto Raptors, who have secured their spot in the postseason.
The Toronto Raptors’ Path
In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors secured the No. 5 seed and will face the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. The Canadian franchise enters this matchup with a significant statistical advantage, holding a 3-0 record against the Cavaliers during the regular season. In the betting markets, the Raptors currently have odds of 46.00 to win the Eastern Conference and 301.00 to win the NBA Championship.
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First-Round Matchups
The postseason bracket was finalized following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday, April 17. The Orlando Magic secured the No. 8 seed in the East by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 121-90, while the Phoenix Suns secured the final spot in the West with a 111-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
The first-round matchups are set as follows:
Eastern Conference:
- (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic
- (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
- (3) N.Y. Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
- (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
Western Conference:
- (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Phoenix Suns
- (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers
- (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- (4) L.A. Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Title Favorites and Market Odds
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the playoffs as the clear overall favorites to win the NBA Championship, with odds set at 2.05. They are also the top contenders to win the Western Conference at 1.58. In the East, the Boston Celtics lead the pack with odds of 2.50 to win their conference and 6.50 to take home the championship. Other prominent contenders for the title include the San Antonio Spurs at 6.00 and the Denver Nuggets at 10.00.
Injury Updates and Historic Upsets
Several teams face challenges as the playoffs begin. The L.A. Lakers are expected to start their series against the Rockets without key players Luka Doncic, who averaged 37.5 points in March, and Austin Reaves due to injuries.
For lower-seeded teams hoping to make a deep run, NBA history provides some inspiration. The league has seen No. 8 seeds eliminate No. 1 seeds on six occasions: the Denver Nuggets (1994), New York Knicks (1999), Golden State Warriors (2007), Memphis Grizzlies (2011), Philadelphia 76ers (2012), and Miami Heat (2023). This year, the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns will attempt to add their names to that list against the Pistons and Thunder.
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