NBA playoff odds for First Round games are taking shape, with four of the eight matchups on the schedule.

The top two seeds in each conference are awaiting opponents from the play-in round. One of the more intriguing series that’s already set in NBA First Round playoff odds: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers.

Here’s everything you need to know about the most notable matchups in odds for NBA playoffs first-round games: action, line movement and betting trends. Check back regularly for updates.

2026 NBA Playoffs First Round Odds

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Odds

• Opening point spread: Knicks -5.5
• Opening moneyline: Knicks -205/Hawks +170
• Opening total: Over/Under 217.5 points scored
• Time: 6 p.m. ET Saturday (Prime)
• Series Odds: Knicks -290/Hawks +230

LATEST UPDATE: As of midnight ET Thursday, the Knicks are -5.5 (-105) in Hard Rock Bet’s NBA First Round playoff odds for Game 1. That’s up from the -5 opener and Tuesday’s -4.5 (-120) low point, with the line going to the current number on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s all Knicks so far this week on the spread, at 71% of tickets/88% of money. Even moneyline customers are willing to lay the price, currently -220, with 71% of tickets/85% of cash on New York.

Hard Rock’s total is pinned to 216.5, with 64% of early bets/76% of early money on the Over.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: New York (53-29 SU/42-39-1 ATS) was on a 12-3 run before fully letting off the gas in the regular-season finale, with the No. 3 seed wrapped up. The Knicks were 14.5-point home underdogs vs. Charlotte and lost 110-96.

But New York at least covered and is on a 5-0 ATS upswing.

Atlanta (46-36 SU/44-38 ATS) dropped three of its last four games, falling from the No. 5 seed to No. 6 as it lost a tiebreaker vs. Toronto. Prior to that modest slide, though, the Hawks were on a torrid 18-2 SU/16-4 ATS spree.

DraftKings Sportsbook opened the Knicks -5.5 (-105) for Game 1, then dipped to -4.5 (-115) late Sunday night. That said, early spread play favors New York, at 59% of bets/86% of money, as of 9 p.m. ET Monday.

DK’s total opened at 217.5 and fell to 216.5 (Over -115), with 75% of bets on the Over/78% of cash on the Under.

The Hawks and Knicks met three times in the regular season, with New York going 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS.

Western Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Odds

• Opening point spread: Nuggets -5.5
• Opening moneyline: Nuggets -225/Timberwolves +185
• Opening total: Over/Under 230.5 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (Prime)
• Series Odds: Nuggets -350/Timberwolves +280

LATEST ODDS UPDATE: The Nuggets are -5.5 (-120) in Hard Rock Bet’s NBA playoff odds for Game 1, as of midnight ET Thursday. Denver opened -5.5, touched -6.5 (-115) a couple times, then went to the current number early Thursday morning.

Early spread play leans toward the Nuggets, at 57% of bets/62% of money.

Hard Rock’s total has bounced around a bit, opening at 231, dipping to 230.5 (Over -115) twice, peaking at 231.5 (Over -115) and now at 231.5 flat. The Over is netting 54% of bets/72% of money.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: No. 3 seed Denver (54-28 SU/44-38 ATS) is the hottest team in the league entering the playoffs, riding a 12-game win streak (5-7 ATS). In Sunday’s regular-season finale, the Nuggets dumped No. 2 seed San Antonio 128-118 as 9.5-point road underdogs.

Both the Spurs and Nuggets were resting players.

No. 6 seed Minnesota (49-33 SU/37-45 ATS) won three of its last four SU and ATS. That included a big road win over Houston, 136-132, with the Timberwolves 10-point underdogs.

Denver went 3-1 SU and ATS vs. Minnesota in the regular season. But it’s worth noting that two years ago, the T-Wolves knocked out the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, taking Game 7 on the road.

On Sunday night, DraftKings opened Denver -5.5 (-115) for Game 1 and went to -6.5 (-115) in less than 30 minutes. However, as of 4 p.m. ET Monday, spread tickets are close, with a slight Nuggets lean, while 86% of spread money is on the Timberwolves.

The total is pinned to 230.5, with 75% of bets/66% of money on the Over so far.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds

• Opening point spread: Rockets -4.5
• Opening moneyline: Rockets -185/Lakers +154
• Opening total: Over/Under 208.5 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (Prime)
• Series Odds: Rockets -750/Lakers +550

LATEST UPDATE: Houston toggled between -5/-5.5 a couple times early in the week in Hard Rock Bet’s NBA playoff first-round odds. But the Rockets have been stable at -5.5 flat since Tuesday morning.

Early spread play is leaning into the road favorite, with Houston taking 60% of bets/70% of cash. The moneyline, however, is more of a mixed bags, with 71% of tickets on the Lakers – currently +180 – and 56% of money on the Rockets.

Hard Rock’s total opened at 207.5 and nudged to 207.5 (Under -115) on Wednesday. That said, early tickets and money are running 4/1 on the Over.

OPENING ODDS UPDATE: Houston is the No. 5 seed and Los Angeles the No. 4 seed. But with the Lakers wracked by injuries over the past couple weeks, the Rockets are notable road favorites in Game 1 and huge series favorites.

Los Angeles (53-29 SU/45-36-1 ATS) had a strong last couple months of the season, including a 16-2 SU run at one point (13-5 ATS). However, Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) missed the last five games.

Doncic’s return date is unknown, and Reaves is expected to miss the first round.

Houston (52-30 SU/36-46 ATS) enters the postseason on a 9-1 SU run (6-4 ATS). The Rockets went 1-2 SU and ATS vs. the Lakers in the regular season, including back-to-back losses at home in mid-March.

But with the Lakers’ injury issues, DraftKings opened Houston -4.5 (-115) for Game 1 and on Monday morning climbed to -5.5. Early spread ticket count is 2/1 Rockets, and early spread money is almost entirely Rockets, as of 3:30 p.m. ET Monday.

The total is down to 207.5 from a 208.5 (Under -115) opener, with tickets 3/1 on the Over, but money 5/1 on the Under.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs Odds