The 2026 NBA Playoffs reach the second round Monday night, when the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals open with two Game 1s. The Celtics, Nuggets and Rockets are out, while the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder remain the title favorites. [1]
CBS Sports says its SportsLine Projection model is especially high on the New York Knicks in futures betting. The Knicks are -270 to beat the 76ers, +145 to win the Eastern Conference and +900 to win the NBA Finals. [1]
The model gives New York a 91.3% chance to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals, a 52.0% chance to reach the East finals and a 20.6% chance to win the championship. CBS Sports also points to the Knicks' recent form, after they beat the Hawks 4-2 and closed the series with wins by 16, 29 and 51 points. [1]
Oklahoma City still sits at the top of the market. FanDuel lists the Thunder at -155 to win the title, down from +115 entering the postseason, and the SportsLine model gives them a 49.5% chance to repeat. [1]
The semifinals begin Monday night with two Game 1s. [1]