The 2026 NBA playoffs are heating up, and Wednesday night delivers a doubleheader that no basketball fan should miss. After a pair of eye-opening Game 1 results on Monday—one a blowout, the other a stunning upset—the stakes are even higher tonight. And for those looking to add some extra excitement, there's a perfect opportunity to get started with DraftKings: new users can claim $100 in bonus bets instantly after placing their first $5 wager.
First up at 7 p.m. ET, the New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks are riding a wave of momentum after a 39-point demolition in Game 1, and they've now won four straight games—all by more than 15 points. The 76ers, meanwhile, will be without Joel Embiid (hip, ankle) for Game 2, making their road even tougher. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, is backing the Knicks to cover as 6.5-point favorites.
Then at 9:30 p.m. ET, the San Antonio Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves shocked the basketball world with a Game 1 upset victory on the road, and now the Spurs will look to even the series at home. The model is also eyeing the Over 215.5 total points for this matchup, suggesting we could be in for a high-scoring affair.
But the action doesn't stop on the hardwood. Wednesday also features NHL playoff action, with the Canadiens facing the Sabres in Game 1 of their series. SportsLine's top experts have locked in NHL best bets for that game as well.
The SportsLine Projection Model has been on fire this season, entering the second round of the NBA playoffs on a sizzling 26-9 roll (74%) on top-rated spread picks. For $100 players, the model has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit over the past eight-plus seasons. Combining the three expert picks for Wednesday into a single parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +531 (risk $100 to win $531, odds subject to change).
Somehow, the word "domination" doesn't seem to capture how the Knicks have played over the last 10 days. They closed out their series against the Hawks with three straight wins by an average of 32 points, capped by a 140-89 victory, before their 137-98 Game 1 win over the 76ers. It's a run that has the basketball world taking notice—and one that makes Wednesday's games even more compelling to follow.