2026 NBA playoffs second-round odds: Spurs, Cavs favored to advance with Game 6 wins
Every recreation in the remainder of the second spherical is a possible close-out recreation for somebody. Friday brings a pair of Game 6s that might finish the spherical or lead to a Game 7 or two.
First up, Cleveland tries to take out Detroit, the highest seed within the East. Then, San Antonio’s younger core can attain a major milestone by taking out Minnesota on the street.
In each video games, the crew in place to advance with a win is favored.
This story shall be up to date all through the second spherical as the chances change with the outcomes for every recreation.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavaliers lead sequence 3-2(*6*)
Game 6:(*6*) 7 pm ET, Friday
Series odds:(*6*) Cavaliers -320, Pistons +260
Twice it appeared the Pistons had been in command of Game 5, however Cleveland saved coming again and at last had their first street win of the playoffs.
Detroit led by 15 halfway via the second quarter earlier than the Cavs made a run within the third quarter to take the lead. The Pistons rebuilt a nine-point lead with lower than three minutes to go, however the Cavs stormed again once more.
Detroit did not rating within the closing three minutes of regulation and took two minutes into additional time to rating once more. Cleveland scored 13 straight factors as a part of an 18-2 run that flipped the sport and this sequence on its head.
After that 117-113 additional time win, Cleveland has the lead on this sequence for the primary time after profitable three in a row. Now, the Cavs head house, the place they’re 6-0 this postseason, with an opportunity to shut out the sequence. The Cavs are favored by 3.5 factors in Game 6.
Donovan Mitchell had an off recreation with 21 factors on 7-for-18 capturing (1-for-8 from 3-point vary) for Cleveland. James Harden had a star efficiency with 30 factors, and Max Strus picked up the slack with 20 factors on six made 3-pointers.
Cade Cunningham had 39 factors on 27 photographs in 48 minutes for Detroit, however no different Piston reached 20 factors.
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
Knicks win sequence 4-0(*6*)
The Knicks actually have hit overdrive within the final seven video games. Since falling behind the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 within the first spherical, the Knicks have gained seven straight video games by a mean of 26.4 factors per recreation. Sure, that 51-point win in Game 6 in opposition to the Hawks is skewing that common a bit, however there are two different wins by 30 or extra factors in that run, and 6 of the seven wins had been by at the very least 14.
This is why the Knicks are favored to make the NBA Finals. While the Pistons and Cavs are beating one another up, the Knicks have been on cruise management.
This makes two years in a row within the Eastern Conference finals for New York. Last yr did not go so effectively, however Knicks followers could have renewed hope with the best way the crew has been taking part in.
The Knicks final made the NBA Finals in 1999.
Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers
Thunder win sequence 4-0(*6*)
This might’ve been a enjoyable sequence had Luka Dončić been obtainable for the Lakers. It would’ve been a gathering of arguably the 2 greatest guards within the league.
Instead, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder brushed the Lakers apart with a four-game sweep, and Luka might solely watch in avenue garments. Monday’s Game 4 was the one aggressive recreation of the sequence, however that is hardly a comfort for LA.
The Lakers got here again from 12 factors down within the third quarter to construct a five-point lead on just a few events within the fourth quarter and led within the closing minute, however LeBron James missed a possible go-ahead shot with 20 seconds left, and Austin Reaves missed a possible tying 3-pointer on the following Lakers possession.
While the Thunder are nonetheless the clear favorites to win the NBA title, the Lakers have to work out what to do with their roster. No one received to see what this crew might do within the playoffs with its greatest participant, Dončić, which makes evaluating the roster a bit extra difficult. Will they run it again or have to retool?
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Spurs lead sequence 3-2(*6*)
Game 6:(*6*) 9:30 pm ET, Friday
Series odds:(*6*) Spurs -1200, Timberwolves +750
The Spurs had been closely favored to win Game 5 and delivered, a lot in order that they’d to basically blow out Minnesota 3 times.
San Antonio jumped out to a 24-9 lead, solely to see Minnesota get again inside two factors earlier than the tip of the primary quarter. The Spurs rebuilt their lead, going up by 18 within the second quarter earlier than Minnesota stormed again to tie the sport within the third quarter. San Antonio finally put away Minnesota for good, profitable 126-97. The Timberwolves’ solely lead was 5-3.
It was a dominant win in a sequence that’s shut on paper, however has by no means been shut within the odds. The Spurs had been -425 to advance earlier than Game 5 and at the moment are an amazing favourite to advance at -1200. The Spurs are favored by 4.5 factors on the street in Game 6.
It wasn’t a full-on Victor Wembanyama revenge recreation after being ejected in Game 4, however his line was nonetheless spectacular: 27 factors, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, three blocks. In a show of San Antonio’s depth on the wings, Keldon Johnson had 21 factors on 8-for-11 capturing off the bench. The Spurs’ formulation is Wembanyama doing his factor plus one or two of their handful of gifted wings having good video games.
Anthony Edwards had 20 factors in 39 minutes for Minnesota. In the 9 minutes he wasn’t on the ground, the Timberwolves had been outscored by 20 factors. Ouch.
