Euroleague & NBA Playoffs: What Do The Betting Experts Say?
24 Apr, 2026
- 🚀 OKC is up 2-0 and still looks like the cleanest title team, while Cleveland’s control has been tested after Toronto’s Game 3 response
- 📈 Atlanta and Minnesota have both grabbed 2-1 series leads, which is exactly why props, rebounds, and assist lines feel more useful than blind side picks
- ⚔️ EuroLeague is one game away from a full bracket, with Monaco-Barcelona still deciding who gets Olympiacos next
The NBA playoffs are already upon us, while we still await the final showdown of the Euroleague Play-In in order to have a set bracket. However, all the other matchups are already set, so let’s see how the run-in of the basketball season at the highest levels is shaping up.
In the NBA, we’ve already gone through all the play-in drama, with some superstars and title hopefuls already having bowed out of the competition, while others are surprisingly holding their own in their respective first round matchups. For starters, let’s check out who’s playing who.
NBA Playoffs
We’ll be separating the NBA portion of the article by conference. Let’s start with the East, where things are seemingly wide open when it comes to who’ll be making the run to the Finals:
Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic (Series tied 1-1)
Next game: Game 3 on April 25th in Orlando
Live moneyline: Orlando 2.20 | Detroit 1.70
Detroit’s Game 2 response is exactly why the market never fully bought Orlando’s Game 1 upset. The Pistons won 98-83, Cade Cunningham went for 27 points and 11 assists, and the game snapped open with a devastating 30-3 third-quarter run. But the deeper read is not just “Detroit bounced back.” It is how Detroit did it: with defense, with composure after a tight first half, and without needing a fluky shooting night to control the game. Orlando shot just 32.5% from the field and 25% from three, which is what this series looks like when the Magic cannot generate easy points off turnovers and chaos.
There is still a real tension in this matchup. NBA.com flagged Detroit’s ball-security problem before the series began: the Pistons ranked 23rd in turnover rate at 15.1 per 100 possessions, and Orlando’s best path is still to speed the game up with pressure and turn live-ball mistakes into transition offense. That is why this series does not feel fully stable even after Detroit’s Game 2 response. Detroit’s half-court structure is better; Orlando’s pressure can still distort the terms of the game.
Betting ideas
- Pistons moneyline (1.70): the market is still saying the fuller body of work matters more than one upset, and Game 2 backed that up.
- Cade Cunningham assists look: if Orlando keeps loading bodies at him, the cleaner angle is often his playmaking rather than pure scoring. He already posted 11 assists in Detroit’s latest win.
- Magic team total under / full-game under look: both defenses have real teeth, and Orlando’s offense becomes thin fast if it is not getting live-ball fuel.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors (Cleveland leads 2-1)
Next game: Game 4 on April 26th in Toronto
Live moneyline: Toronto 2.36 | Cleveland 1.62
This series looked like one of the cleaner reads on the board through two games, but Game 3 made it a little less automatic. Cleveland won 126-113 in Game 1 and 115-105 in Game 2, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 32 and 30 in those wins. Then Toronto punched back with a 126-104 Game 3 win, powered by Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett both scoring 33 points. That matters because the Raptors did not just survive; they turned Cleveland over, ran, defended with real bite, and finally made the Cavs look uncomfortable.
The Raptors can score enough to make stretches interesting, and Game 3 proved that the shot-creation gap is not as clean if Toronto is forcing mistakes first. Cleveland’s version of offense is still easier to trust over the full series because it can get to good shots from more angles, but the road environment has changed the tone. Game 4 now becomes less about whether Cleveland is better and more about whether it can re-establish control before Toronto fully believes the series has flipped.
Betting ideas
- Cavaliers moneyline (1.62): this is still the clearest side if you trust Cleveland’s larger body of work over one ugly road result.
- Scottie Barnes assists look: Toronto’s best Game 3 offense flowed through Barnes as a scorer and passer, and Cleveland now has to respect both.
Raptors team total over look: this becomes more interesting after Game 3, especially if Toronto keeps turning Cleveland giveaways into open-floor offense.
New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks (Atlanta leads 2-1)
Next game: Game 4 on April 25th in Atlanta
Live moneyline: Atlanta 1.74 | New York 2.14
This is no longer just a pure coin-flip series. Atlanta has won two straight one-possession games, and Game 3 was the kind of loss that can stay in a team’s head. The Hawks won 109-108 after CJ McCollum hit the go-ahead jumper in the final seconds, Jalen Johnson flirted with a triple-double, and Jonathan Kuminga again gave Atlanta real bench punch. New York had chances, but the final possession died without a clean shot, which is exactly the sort of late-game detail that separates “close series” from “series slipping away.”
This series also has a fascinating tug-of-war inside New York’s own offense. Before the series, NBA.com noted Brunson averaged 29.3 points and 7.8 assists against Atlanta in the regular season, while Towns averaged 28.5 points and 13.5 rebounds on 63% shooting in those meetings. But Games 2 and 3 have exposed the danger of Knicks possessions becoming too sticky: Brunson has been pressured late, Bridges and Hart gave New York almost nothing offensively in Game 3, and Atlanta has repeatedly found just enough creation when the game turns frantic. If Atlanta keeps turning the game into drive-and-collapse basketball while keeping Brunson uncomfortable, this stays live.
Betting ideas
- Karl-Anthony Towns over 1.5 made threes: Atlanta’s help-heavy structure keeps opening that release valve.
- Jalen Brunson points over look, but only if the line stays in the mid-20s: the buy-low logic is still clear, even though the efficiency and late-game process have been uneven.
- Small Hawks moneyline lean at 1.74: Atlanta has now taken the two tightest games in the series, and the home floor makes the favorite price more interesting than it looked before Game 3.
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers (Series tied 1-1)
Next game: Game 3 on April 24th in Philadelphia
Live moneyline: Philadelphia 3.40 | Boston 1.34
Game 2 changed this series from “likely favorite control” to “real stress test.” Philadelphia won 111-97, and NBA.com’s breakdown centered on the backcourt avalanche: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 59 points, with Philadelphia also punishing Boston from deep. Edgecombe’s night was even more extreme than the headline suggests: Liberty Ballers noted he had 30 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the youngest player in NBA playoff history to post a 30-10 game. Boston is still the more trusted team over a full series, but the underdog now has a concrete mechanism for making this uncomfortable.
The matchup question now is whether Boston can keep Philly’s guards out of rhythm without overcommitting to the ball. If Maxey is consistently getting paint touch and Edgecombe is making Boston pay as a second creator, then the Celtics’ margin for error shrinks fast. Joel Embiid’s status also hangs over the series, with reports listing him as doubtful for Game 3 after his appendectomy. Even without treating him like a sure thing, Philadelphia has already shown it has enough guard pressure to make Boston solve real problems on the road.
Betting ideas
- Tyrese Maxey points over look: Game 2 showed why Boston cannot fully flatten his downhill game.
- Jayson Tatum points over look: Boston typically responds to a playoff setback by centralizing its best scorer more aggressively.
- Boston moneyline (1.34), not series blowout logic: the Celtics still deserve favorite status, but this is not a spot to treat Philly like decorative wallpaper anymore.
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Now that we’ve taken care of the East, let’s head to the Western Conference. Here’s what awaits on (arguably) the more competitive side of the bracket:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Phoenix Suns (OKC leads 2-0)
Next game: Game 3 on April 25th in Phoenix
Live moneyline: Phoenix 4.60 | Oklahoma City 1.21
The series still looks exactly like the price says it should. Oklahoma City won Game 2, 120-107, after smashing Phoenix in Game 1, and the core indicators remain brutal for the Suns: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 37 points and 9 assists, Chet Holmgren had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks, and even when Phoenix made a late push, OKC still had another gear. The key detail remains the same: the Thunder stretched the lead to 23 in the third quarter before Phoenix ever truly stabilized.
The only real complication is health. Jalen Williams left Game 2 with a hamstring injury, and that is the one thing that can make a mismatch feel slightly less clean. Still, the structural case for OKC is strong. Before the series, NBA.com noted the Thunder’s shot-opportunity differential fell from last season, but they still retained the essential stuff that matters in this matchup: multiple on-ball creators, elite interior deterrence from Holmgren, and the best closer on the floor. SGA winning the league’s Clutch Player of the Year award is a neat summary of the playoff problem Phoenix is facing late.
Betting ideas
- Thunder moneyline as parlay anchor (1.21): not glamorous, but still the cleanest side.
- Devin Booker over 4.5 assists: he has to play more as a connector if Phoenix is going to keep OKC’s defense moving.
- Dillon Brooks points under look: this fits Phoenix’s broader offensive strain and the difficulty of finding clean secondary scoring.
San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers (Series tied 1-1)
Next game: Game 3 on April 24th in Portland
Live moneyline: Portland 2.20 | San Antonio 1.70
This was trending toward a clean Spurs series until Victor Wembanyama’s concussion ripped the floor out from under the matchup. San Antonio won Game 1 behind 35 points from Wembanyama, then Portland took Game 2, 106-103, after rallying from 14 down in the fourth. Scoot Henderson scored a season-best 31, and Wembanyama’s exit plus Portland’s late shotmaking completely changed the series texture.
The deeper issue is how dependent San Antonio’s ecosystem is on Wembanyama’s presence. He is not just their best player; he is their best bailout option, their best rim deterrent, and the biggest reason Portland’s drivers have to alter decisions. Without him, Game 2 flipped in all the places you would expect: San Antonio’s late-game offense stalled, Portland attacked with more confidence, and a neat series became a messy one.
Betting ideas
- Blazers moneyline (2.20) if Wembanyama is out or limited: the number becomes much more attractive if the injury status stays cloudy.
- Scoot Henderson points over look: he just put up 31 on 11-for-17 shooting, and Portland’s shot diet becomes much cleaner when he gets downhill.
- Spurs team total under look: this is the cleaner play than guessing their side if Wemby is not fully available.
Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves (Minnesota leads 2-1)
Next game: Game 4 on April 25th in Minneapolis
Live moneyline: Minnesota 2.14 | Denver 1.74
This already looks like the best pure basketball series of the round, and Game 3 pushed it firmly into Minnesota’s hands. Denver won Game 1, then Minnesota answered in Game 2, 119-114, after erasing a 19-point deficit. In Game 3, the Wolves did not need a comeback. They controlled the game early, defended Denver into a season-low shooting night, and won 113-96 behind Ayo Dosunmu’s 25 off the bench and Jaden McDaniels’ two-way impact.
The key stat from Game 3 is not just the score. It is Denver shooting 34.1% from the field and 20% from three while Nikola Jokić had to fight through a 7-for-26 night. NBA.com’s takeaways have already put the spotlight on the most important swing factor in this matchup: non-Jokić minutes. That has been Denver’s vulnerable underbelly for years, and it is the exact place Minnesota can build leverage if Edwards, McDaniels, Dosunmu, and the bench shooters can keep those stretches alive. That is why this series feels less like a “who has the best star?” question and more like a “who survives the edges better?” question.
Betting ideas
- Anthony Edwards over 5.5 rebounds: his playoff role still keeps him active enough on the glass.
- Jaden McDaniels points/rebounds look: Game 3 showed how valuable his two-way minutes are when Minnesota leans fully into its defensive identity.
- Small Timberwolves moneyline lean at 2.14: if you believe the Wolves can keep winning the second-chance, defensive, and non-Jokić minutes, the home underdog price is interesting.
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers (Lakers lead 2-0)
Next game: Game 3 on April 24th in Houston
Live moneyline: Houston 1.29 | Lakers 3.70
This is still the strangest next-game price on the board. The Lakers are up 2-0 after winning 107-98 and 101-94, yet the live market still has Houston heavily favored in Game 3. That tells you the market is not buying the series score at face value; it is pricing in home court, urgency, and some version of Houston correction. The problem is that the on-court evidence keeps pointing the other way. The Lakers’ defensive intensity and LeBron James’ control have defined the series, while Kevin Durant scored 23 in Game 2 but also committed nine turnovers.
This series has become a fascinating test of whether the market is being sharp or stubborn. If Houston is going to justify this kind of price, it has to clean up the self-inflicted stuff immediately. Durant’s ankle status also adds another layer of risk, because he is listed as questionable for Game 3. When he is spending possessions fighting pressure and giving the ball away, the Rockets’ half-court offense gets cramped fast. And if the Lakers keep getting enough from secondary spacing pieces, Houston’s margin shrinks again.
Betting ideas
- Lakers plus the points look: that makes more sense than blindly trusting the scoreboard correction narrative.
- Alperen Şengün over 5.5 assists: this fits the need for Houston to create easier offense through the hub.
- Rui Hachimura over 1.5 threes look: Houston’s help can open weak-side looks, and Hachimura remains one of the cleanest ways for the Lakers to punish that spacing.
EUROLEAGUE Play-In & Playoffs
The EuroLeague quarterfinals begin next week, but one play-in door is still open: Monaco vs Barcelona decides the final berth, and the winner gets Olympiacos. The official EuroLeague calendar sets Olympiacos vs Play-In C winner and Fenerbahce vs Zalgiris for April 28, with Real Madrid vs Hapoel Tel Aviv on April 29th to open the playoffs.
Valencia vs Panathinaikos
- Next game: Game 1 next week in Valencia
- Stake moneyline: Valencia 1.82 | Panathinaikos 1.96
Panathinaikos arrives with the psychological edge of already surviving a pressure game, beating Monaco 87-79 behind 21 points from TJ Shorts. That matters because Valencia may own the seeding edge, but Panathinaikos enters sharper in the “we’ve already had to solve a playoff-style game this week” sense. EuroLeague’s game notes also show this is not a novelty matchup: Valencia won the Round 14 meeting in Athens and leads the head-to-head 7-6, which is enough to keep this from being framed as simple pedigree versus pretender.
The stylistic tension is also more interesting than the raw odds suggest. BasketNews noted Ergin Ataman himself framed Valencia as having a coaching and pace advantage this season, meaning Panathinaikos will need to disrupt that rhythm rather than simply out-star it. That makes this one feel less like a talent mismatch and more like a “who imposes tempo first?” quarterfinal.
Betting ideas
- Panathinaikos moneyline at plus money: if you prefer proven pressure handling over bracket position, this is the sharper upset look.
- Valencia-Panathinaikos over 174.5 look on Stake: Stake’s totals board listed 174.5 for this matchup, which fits two teams with real shot creation.
- Panathinaikos team total over 87.5 look: also available on Stake’s market page and attractive if you think Shorts keeps driving the tempo.
Fenerbahce vs Zalgiris
- Next game: Game 1 on April 28 in Istanbul
- Stake moneyline: Fenerbahce 1.38 | Zalgiris 3.00
This is the most classic EuroLeague matchup on the board: a favorite with the broader talent band against a disciplined, annoying underdog that rarely gives possessions away. EuroLeague’s final-round coverage showed Zalgiris closed the regular season hard enough to finish 23-15, while outside market pricing still treats Fenerbahce as the side with the materially higher playoff ceiling.
That is the important distinction. Zalgiris is not being priced like a fake team. It is being priced like a team that has to win a lower-possession, lower-variance script to have the series on its terms. Fenerbahce has more ways to survive ugly patches, and that is usually what the market pays for in EuroLeague playoff openers.
Betting ideas
- Fenerbahce moneyline as a EuroLeague parlay leg: this is the safer expression of the talent gap.
- Zalgiris +points only if the spread climbs: this feels more like a margin series than a pure upset series.
Real Madrid vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv
- Next game: Game 1 on April 29 in Madrid
- Stake moneyline: Real Madrid 1.30 | Hapoel Tel-Aviv 3.45
Real Madrid is getting the exact kind of respect Real Madrid always gets at this stage, and it is not hard to see why. EuroLeague’s game-center numbers list Madrid at 87.6 points per game to Hapoel’s 86.5, and the head-to-head page shows Madrid already edged Hapoel once this season. El País also reported Madrid will have nearly 8,000 season-ticket holders in the building for the opener after security clearance, which makes the home opener feel even more like a classic Madrid leverage spot.
The key betting question is not whether Hapoel is dangerous. It is whether Hapoel can hold up for 40 minutes once Madrid starts dictating the terms. Stake’s market makes that answer pretty clear: Madrid is favored on the moneyline, the handicap, and the team total. That is heavy respect, not just mild favoritism.
Betting ideas
- Real Madrid -6.5 on Stake: that is the cleaner aggressive angle than the short moneyline.
- Real Madrid team total over 89.5: if you like Madrid but want offense rather than margin, this is the more direct expression.
- Full-game over 170.5 only if you trust Hapoel shotmaking to travel: Stake listed 170.5 as the opening total.
Olympiacos vs Monaco/Barcelona Winner
- Next game: Monaco vs Barcelona on April 24 for the final playoff berth
- Stake moneyline for play-in game: Monaco 1.85 | Barcelona 1.92
This is the bracket’s cruel joke. Monaco and Barcelona are basically in a toss-up for the right to face Olympiacos. EuroLeague’s official preview frames it exactly that way: the last playoff spot, one game, and the No. 1 seed waiting on the other side. Monaco also carries a subtle form edge here; Basketball Sphere noted it closed the regular season with home wins over ASVEL, Barcelona, and Hapoel Tel Aviv, and EuroLeague’s own preview leaned Barcelona over Zvezda because of experience and home-court, which Barcelona then cashed in the previous play-in stage.
That makes the matchup more interesting than a plain coin flip. Monaco has recent home proof against high-end opponents, while Barcelona still has the veteran gravity that makes one-game elimination spots uncomfortable. Stake’s board has the teams nearly dead even, which feels right.
Betting ideas
- Monaco moneyline (1.85): slight lean because of the home floor and the recent home form against this caliber.
- Monaco -1.5 on Stake if you want a slightly more aggressive version of the same read.
- Under 166.5 on Stake: one-game survival basketball often plays tighter, and Stake’s totals board lists 166.5 in the middle of the opening range.
Getting The Playoffs To Pay Off
The playoffs are finally starting to reveal what is real. Some teams look built for this stage, some are hanging on by variance, and a few matchups are already turning into the kind of chaos bettors love.
The safest reads are beginning to separate from the flashy ones, but that is exactly what makes this stretch so compelling. The NBA playoffs are only getting louder, the EuroLeague is about to get even more brutal, and the next wave of games should bring exactly what everyone wants from late-season basketball - fireworks!
