2024 NBA Playoffs Series Prices: First Round Matchups

Here's a closer look at all first-round matchups in the 2024 NBA playoffs and how the odds are unfolding as each series progresses.

NBA Playoff Matchup Hub

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Miami Heat 

Series Preview: Celtics vs. Heat First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Celtics lead 3-1

The Miami Heat punched their ticket to the postseason by defeating the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament. They'll now have to take on the best team in the Association in the Boston Celtics without their best player as Jimmy Butler has been ruled out for several weeks with an MCL sprain.

No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

Series Preview: Knicks vs. 76ers First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Knicks lead 3-2

The New York Knicks are making history as just the second No. 1 or No. 2 seed over the last 25 years to enter the first round as an underdog, joining the Phoenix Suns in 2021 against the Los Angeles Lakers, which Phoenix advanced through in six games.

No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

Series Preview: Bucks vs. Pacers First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Pacers lead 3-2

The Milwaukee Bucks received a huge blow with the news that superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be ready to compete for the start of the team's series against the Indiana Pacers due to a left calf strain. There's still hope that he'll suit up at some point, but that will be determined by how effective his treatment works. Even with Giannis at 100 percent, the Pacers would still maintain the psychological edge having defeated the Bucks four out of five times during the regular season.

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

Series Preview: Cavaliers vs. Magic First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Cavaliers lead 3-2

The Orlando Magic return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, barely missing out on home-court advantage by just a single game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who qualify for the second year in a row. The two sides split their season series at 2-2, with Cleveland's greater odds perhaps stemming from the necessity to advance in order to keep Donovan Mitchell content as he can enter unrestricted free agency at the end of next season.

Western Conference

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans Or Sacramento Kings

Series Preview: Thunder vs. Pelicans First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Thunder win 4-0

The Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 97-89 victory to complete the clean four-game sweep of the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. The No. 1 seed in the Western Conference now await the winner of the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round.

No. 2 Denver Nuggets Vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers

Series Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Best Bet: Nuggets win 4-1

The reigning champion Denver Nuggets eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night with a narrow 108-106 victory. They'll face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs.

No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns

Series Preview: Timberwolves vs. Suns First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Timberwolves Win 4-0

The Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns in four games, marking the first sweep of a best-of-seven series in franchise history.

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

Series Preview: Clippers vs. Mavericks First Round Preview, Betting Odds

Odds as of May 1

Series: Mavericks-Clippers tied 2-2

Like Minnesota and New York, the Los Angeles Clippers are also facing an uphill climb as the home-court underdogs, likely due to the Dallas Mavericks being one of the Association's hotter teams to close out the campaign. Dallas went 16-2 SU from March 6 through April 10, while the Clippers currently have health concerns surrounding Kawhi Leonard who sat out the final eight games with knee inflammation. 

How to Bet NBA Playoffs Moneyline

Betting the moneyline is also referred to as a "straight-up bet," meaning you're simply picking the winner of a specific series. If the team you bet on emerges victorious, then so do you.

In this example, the Phoenix Suns are considered the favorites in their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, evident by the minus sign (-) displayed in front of their numerical odds. The Timberwolves are the underdogs, which is made apparent by the plus sign (+) next to their respective numerical odds.

If you were to bet on the Suns to defeat the Timberwolves on the moneyline by wagering $100 and Phoenix advanced, you'd receive your original bet back along with $70.42 in profit. If Minnesota moved forward, the profit would be larger - in this case, your original bet and $100 in profit - because it was the underdog in this series