2026 NBA playoffs betting: How to bet each second-round series - ESPN

The NBA playoffs continue Monday with the conference semifinals, after a wild opening round that saw the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets all bow out thanks to impressive performances by the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.

Should you expect more upsets in the second round? And what are the bets to make?

Here are Andre Snellings Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander to answer that and provide their best bets for each second-round series.

Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook and subject to change.

Series correct score OKC 4-1 (+205): It's great that the Lakers, missing key players, hammered the Rockets, but the Thunder are a different animal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can't be stopped, not by Lakers. This series shouldn't be close. Thunder romp, and the question is whether the Lakers take a game or not. — Karabell

Series correct score OKC 4-0 (+120): The Lakers pulled off a very impressive win over the Rockets to advance and will now focus their sights on the Thunder, who quietly swept Phoenix in Round 1. We don't know when Luka Doncic will play again, but it's possible the Thunder sweep the Lakers and we won't see Doncic again this season. I don't see how the Lakers win even one game without Doncic. — Alexander

Lakers +2.5 games (+220): The Thunder blew the Lakers out in their late-season matchup where Doncic got hurt, and were winning by more than 30 points before the injury. But the Luka-led Lakers are a horrible matchup against the Thunder defense, where they have physical wing defenders like Lu Dort that can defend Luka 1-on-1 without doubling and giving him passing angles. With LeBron James leading the way, on the other hand, the Lakers play a more