Power Rankings for the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament: Identifying Potential Cinderella Teams that Could Shake Up the NBA Playoffs
As the NBA playoffs are about to begin, we have compiled our NBA Play-In Tournament power rankings using the top NBA odds for the opening games on Tuesday.
The NBA Play-In Tournament kicks off with four games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the final two games on Friday. The results of these matches have the potential to significantly impact the NBA championship odds.
The Miami Heat narrowly avoided elimination last season by winning on the final day of the play-in tournament. They advanced to the NBA Finals where they faced the Denver Nuggets. The Los Angeles Lakers also had a successful run, going from the play-in tournament to the conference finals in the Western Conference.
Is it possible for us to witness a comparable streak in 2026? Our top sports betting platforms are offering favorable odds for one play-in team as a title favorite, with two others having odds of less than 50/1 to win despite facing tough competition.
Here are our power rankings for the eight teams in the NBA Play-In Tournament, along with their title odds from top NBA betting sites to help you make informed decisions.
Power rankings for the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament
8. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have struggled to inspire confidence as they head into this tournament, dropping six straight games to close out the regular season after holding the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings less than two weeks ago.
Atlanta has the worst record (36-46) and net rating (minus-2.0) in the tournament, and they are facing the Bulls as road underdogs on Wednesday. The Bulls have won in a similar spot in the past. Trae Young is a threat in the postseason, but it seems that the team’s potential is limited to the second round at best, and they may struggle to even make it out of the play-in tournament.
Top odds: +150000 on bet365
7. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls (39-43) are the only team in this field besides us that has a losing record. Despite having a decent roster on paper, they have been consistently disappointing for years.
Chicago has had the worst net rating of any play-in team since the All-Star break, with a minus-2.2. They have ranked no higher than ninth in the East since the beginning of November. While DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic can create matchup problems in the first round, they are not the type of stars who can dominate a playoff series at this point in their careers.
Top odds: +100000 at BetMGM
6. Sacramento Kings
Last year, this team made a strong impression in an exciting first-round series against the Warriors. Now, a year later, top sportsbooks predict that Golden State will eliminate Sacramento on the opening night of the play-in tournament.
This team appeared to have potential to be a strong competitor in April and May, but their performance has declined since losing Malik Monk, their third-leading scorer. They have lost five of their last seven games and are now in the play-in tournament. There is uncertainty about Monk’s return to the team in the near future.
Despite Monk being healthy, Sacramento’s offense took a major step back from last year’s record-setting performance. While having De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis on the team can make them a threat in a seven-game series, they don’t appear to be a strong contender for a championship.
Top odds: +30000 at Caesars Palace
5. Golden State Warriors
Is the current level of performance sufficient for a team featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, despite their ages of 34 or older? Can they muster up enough energy to go far in the competition?
Despite being an elite team on the road this season, the Warriors struggled at the Chase Center with a 21-20 record at home. This unexpected performance caused them to fall to the 10th spot in the West. However, Golden State managed to maintain a top-10 net rating since the All-Star break (plus-4.4), allowing them to stay competitive in the Western Conference.
It would be difficult to underestimate the experience and talent of this team, and it’s possible the Warriors could surprise the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. However, I would still prefer to bet on the four teams ranked above Golden State on this list to have a more successful playoff run.
Top odds: +8500 at FanDuel
4. Miami Heat
Despite Miami consistently following the same regular-season routine, our top sports betting apps consistently doubt Erik Spoelstra’s ability in the postseason. It seems like a recurring pattern in history.
Many ex-Heat players have confirmed that Spoelstra and his team view the regular season as a preparation period for the playoffs, with their success in the postseason reflecting this approach. Despite this, Miami consistently enters the playoffs as a significant underdog and faces slim odds of winning the championship.
While this year’s team may not stand out in advanced metrics, my years of observation lead me to believe they have what it takes to succeed in the play-in tournament. With Jimmy Butler in good health, this team will be a formidable opponent in the postseason.
FanDuel offers the best odds at +4200.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
The majority of rankings place the 76ers as the top team in the play-in tournament. This sentiment is echoed in the betting market, where Philadelphia is listed at odds of 20/1 or lower to win the tournament on all of our top live betting sites.
It may sound promising in theory, but I have doubts about Joel Embiid’s health and the team’s ability to adapt and succeed in the playoffs, especially considering his limited playing time since February.
Philadelphia had a 31-8 record with Embiid playing this season, showcasing their potential for success. However, their unpredictability also poses a significant risk, leading me to favor other teams over the Sixers on this list.
Top probability: +2000 at bet365
2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have had a rollercoaster season, fluctuating between fourth and 11th place in the Western Conference standings. They narrowly avoided the bottom two spots in the play-in tournament.
Ever since Jarred Vanderbilt’s injury on February 1st, Rui Hachimura has been a key player in the starting lineup, leading to a transformed team. With a record of 23-10 since then, Los Angeles now boasts the NBA’s third-best offensive rating (118.4), with superstar Anthony Davis taking on a more prominent role on both offense and defense.
If they win on Tuesday, they will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round, a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals. While not the ideal scenario, this team has a good chance of making a deep run in the play-in field.
Top odds: +3500 at BetMGM
1. New Orleans Pelicans
Despite Brandon Ingram being sidelined with a knee injury during a late-season slump, New Orleans, one of the top teams in the West, seems to have been overlooked by bettors. However, they have the potential to make a significant impact in this year’s NBA playoffs.
As of Tuesday’s games, the Pelicans are ranked sixth in the league in net rating (plus-4.6), with their offense just missing the top 10 and their defense close to breaking into the top five.
Additionally, the team boasts two top scoring talents in Zion Williamson and Ingram, complemented by high-performing scorers CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy. They also have an elite defender in Herb Jones on the perimeter, and a formidable presence in the paint with Jonas Valanciunas.
The team’s only weakness appears to be their lack of experience, a common challenge for newcomers in the competitive scene. However, on paper, they are the most formidable team in the play-in field and should not be underestimated as they head into the NBA playoffs.
Top odds: +8000 at Caesars Palace
NBA Play-In Tournament picks
- Player props for Lakers versus Pelicans
- Player props for the Warriors vs. Kings game
- Player props for the Heat vs. 76ers game
Chances of qualifying for the NBA playoffs
(Odds sourced from DraftKings as of Monday, April 15th)
| Team | To make playoffs | To miss playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | -1400 | +800 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -600 | +425 |
| Miami Heat | -550 | +390 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | -500 | +360 |
| Golden State Warriors | +320 | -425 |
| Sacramento Kings | +425 | -600 |
| Chicago Bulls | +475 | -700 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +600 | -900 |
NBA championship odds 2026
| Team | DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | +160 | +165 | +180 | +165 | +160 |
| Nuggets | +280 | +300 | +300 | +265 | +300 |
| Clippers | +1200 | +1400 | +1200 | +1500 | +1100 |
| Bucks | +1400 | +1400 | +1300 | +1900 | +1200 |
| Thunder | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 | +1200 |
| Mavericks | +1600 | +1700 | +1800 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Suns | +1900 | +1900 | +2000 | +1800 | +1800 |
| 76ers | +1900 | +1600 | +1800 | +1900 | +2000 |
| Timberwolves | +2500 | +1900 | +2000 | +2000 | +1800 |
| Lakers | +3000 | +3300 | +3500 | +2500 | +3000 |
NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
| Date | Matchup | Odds (DraftKings) |
|---|---|---|
| April 16 | Lakers vs. Pelicans | Pelicans -1 |
| April 16 | Warriors vs. Kings | Warriors -2.5 |
| April 17 | Heat vs. 76ers | 76ers -4.5 |
| April 17 | Hawks vs. Bulls | Bulls -3 |
| April 19 | East 7/8 loser vs. East 9/10 winner | |
| April 19 | West 7/8 loser vs. West 9/10 winner |
Can you explain the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Play-In Tournament now determines the final two playoff seeds for each conference, allowing teams ranked ninth and tenth to compete for a spot in the postseason alongside the top six seeds. This is a change from the previous format where only the top eight seeds were guaranteed a playoff spot.
NBA Play-In Tournament format
The teams seeded ninth and tenth will compete, and the victor will have a chance to claim the eighth seed from the loser of the match between the seventh and eighth seeds.
If you finish the regular season as the seventh or eighth seed, you only need to win one game to make the playoffs. However, if your team finishes ninth or 10th in its respective conference, you must win two games in order to qualify for the playoffs.
NBA betting odds pages
These are our top recommended NBA betting sites.
- Use the promo code SBRBONUS1000 at Caesars and check out our review of their services.
- BetMGM Review: Use Bonus Code SBRBONUS to Sign Up
- Use the bonus code SBRBONUS at bet365 and check out our review of the site.
- BetRivers Review: Use Promo Code SBRBONUS | Check out our detailed BetRivers analysis
- Check out our FanDuel Review and use our exclusive FanDuel Promo Code
- Check out our DraftKings Review and use our exclusive DraftKings Promo Code
You must be 21 or older to gamble. If you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Please note that bonuses are not available in Ontario.
Related pages
- Top Sports Betting Sites with the Best Promotions (U.S. residents only)
Related Articles
