The 2026 NBA Playoffs officially commence on Saturday, 18 April. Sixteen franchises will compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a traditional best-of-seven series format. For UK basketball fans preparing for late-night viewings, the definitive bracket was finalised following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday, 17 April.
First-Round Fixtures
The final spots were claimed when the Orlando Magic secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 121-90. Over in the West, the Phoenix Suns eliminated the Golden State Warriors with a 111-96 victory to take the final playoff berth.
The first-round fixtures are set as follows:
Eastern Conference:
- (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic
- (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
- (3) New York 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) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Bookmakers’ Favourites and Odds
Looking at the outright betting markets, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the playoffs as the clear favourites to win the NBA Championship, priced at 21/20. They are also heavily backed to win the Western Conference at 29/50. In the East, the Boston Celtics are the frontrunners to win their conference at 3/2 , whilst sitting at 11/2 to take home the overall championship.
Other notable contenders for the title include the San Antonio Spurs, priced at 5/1, and the Denver Nuggets at 9/1. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons are priced at 16/5 and 4/1 respectively to win the Eastern Conference.
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Team News and Historic Shocks
Going into the opening round, several teams are dealing with significant injury blows. The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to start their series against the Houston Rockets without key personnel, as Luka Doncic (who averaged 37.5 points per game in March) and Austin Reaves are sidelined.
For punters backing the underdogs, the NBA has a history of major first-round shocks. On six occasions, a No. 8 seed has successfully eliminated a No. 1 seed: 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 be hoping to replicate those historic feats against the Pistons and the Thunder.
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