Detroit Pistons

NBA First Round Chalk Strikes Back: Magic Threaten 8-Seed History

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Infographic showing NBA first round 2026 weekend recap. Higher seeds won 5 of 7 games played Friday and Saturday, with three series essentially over (Lakers, Thunder, Wolves). Orlando Magic lead Pistons 2-1 after Game 3 win 113-105. Historically, 5 of 12 prior 8-seeds with a 2-1 lead over a 1-seed have finished the upset (1999 Knicks, 2007 Warriors, 2011 Grizzlies, 2012 76ers, 2023 Heat). Wolves lose DiVincenzo to torn Achilles, Edwards to knee injury, while winning Game 4.

Five days after the chalk got humbled, the chalk regrouped. Higher seeds won five of seven games played Friday and Saturday, and three series that looked like 1-1 toss-ups by Tuesday now sit at 2-1 or 2-2 in the favorite’s direction. Variance giveth, variance taketh. Friday’s post on this site noted that five top seeds … Read more

NBA Playoffs Start This Week: The Market Already Has Problems, From a -900 Series Price to a Disrespected 1-Seed

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2026 NBA Playoffs contrarian preview infographic. Cavs -900 vs Raptors who won all 3 regular season games. Detroit Pistons 53-20 1-seed with title odds longer than Boston's. OKC +115 championship favorites. Play-In tonight: Heat at Hornets, Blazers at Suns. SGA 127 straight 20-point games. Wembanyama 24.3/11.2/3.0 blocks.

NBA Playoffs Start This Week. The Market Already Has Problems. The NBA Play-In Tournament tips tonight in Miami and Portland. By Friday, the 16-team playoff bracket will be set. By June, someone will hold the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the +115 championship favorites, the shortest price in the NBA since the … Read more