2026 NBA playoffs betting guide: Best bets on champion, Finals MVP and each first-round series - ESPN

The NBA playoffs tip off Saturday and conclude with the NBA Finals in mid-June.

Which teams are worth backing on all the way to the NBA Finals? Which long shots deserve your attention? And who holds the best value for Finals' MVP?

Here are Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander to answer those questions and provide their best bets for each first-round series.

Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook and subject to change.

San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA championship (+500): I think they're the best team. They dominated Oklahoma City in the regular season and Victor Wembanyama is the most dangerous player in the league. I think they'll take the kid gloves off and let him play max minutes in the postseason and if Stephon Castle and Wemby both play at peak levels, the Spurs are going to win it all. — Alexander

Spurs to win the Western Conference (+330): Like Mr. Alexander, I'm very bullish on the Spurs, who finished the regular season third in net rating and went 4-1 against the top-seeded Thunder. Wembanyama anchors the roster after averaging 25.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG and 3.1 BPG this season. It's also worth noting that since the Warriors' 2018 repeat, the league has seen seven different champions in seven years. — Moody

Boston Celtics to win the Eastern Conference (+160): The Celtics have a clearer path to the Finals than the Thunder, but at much better pricing. The Western bracket features several candidates for best player on Earth, while the East has Boston and a series of young or flawed contenders. Fueled by the league's second-best offense and fourth-best defense, Boston only gets stronger as the playoffs approach. — McCormick

Celtics to win series over Philadelphia 76ers (-900): Kudos to the 76ers for