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The 2026 NBA Playoffs are set to begin, making it the perfect time to buy and sell with Fanatics Markets. This is a prediction market where you can buy and sell positions on picks during the NBA Playoffs. What sets Fanatics Markets apart from traditional sportsbooks is that you have dynamic prices rather than fixed odds.
Betting during the NBA Playoffs can be profitable, especially in Fanatics Markets, where you can exit your positions early to lock in some return on your investment. My preferred strategy with the NBA Playoffs is to wait to see if a heavy favorite is off to a slow start. From there, you can buy them at a lower price to secure some value.
The NBA Play-In Tournament starts on Tuesday, April 14th, and runs until Friday, April 17th. Once that’s settled, the NBA Playoffs will tip off on Saturday, April 18th. At Fanatics Markets, there are plenty of options for you, such as spreads, moneylines, totals, and futures. Keep reading to learn more.
Earn 10% FanCash on Every Trade, Win or Lose
Trade on Live Sports Markets, Major Events, Outcomes and MORE
Combine Multiple Picks Into One Trade
Earn 10% FanCash on Every Trade, Win or Lose
Trade on Live Sports Markets, Major Events, Outcomes and MORE
Combine Multiple Picks Into One Trade
What Is Fanatics Markets?
Fanatics Markets is a prediction market where users trade positions instead of placing traditional bets. Rather than wagering against a sportsbook, participants buy and sell contracts tied to specific results, making it function more like a marketplace than a betting app.
Each contract is based on a binary outcome: either it happens or it doesn’t. The “yes/no” outcomes are priced between $0 and $1. The price reflects the market’s current implied probability.
- A contract priced at $0.40 implies a 40% chance
- A contract priced at $0.85 implies an 85% chance
Once the event is decided, contracts pay out at $1 if the outcome is correct, or $0 if it is not.
Fanatics Markets vs. Traditional Sportsbooks
Fanatics Markets operates under a different model than conventional betting platforms, with several notable differences, as follows:
- There is no bookmaker setting odds
- Users interact directly with one another, effectively trading within a shared marketplace
- Pricing changes in real time, reacting to market activity and new developments
- Positions can be bought or sold at any point before the outcome is finalized
Example: Trading on the Spurs to win the NBA Championship
Let’s take a look at an example to explain this better:
- Before the playoffs, let’s say that the Spurs are trading at $0.18 to win the NBA Championship, which implies a 18% probability
- You buy 100 shares at $0.18 for a total cost of $18
- After getting to the Western Conference Finals, the market updates the price.
- Price increases to $0.31 (31%)
In this scenario, you have two options:
- Option 1: Take an early profit
- Sell your 100 shares at $0.31
- You receive $31
- Profit = $13
- Option 2: Hold until the result
- If the Spurs win the NBA Championship, your shares settle at $1, so you would receive $100
- If they don’t win, shares settle at $0, so you lose your $18
NBA Game Markets
On Fanatics Markets, NBA playoff offerings are centered around game-specific contracts tied to matchups and in-game performance. Instead of placing fixed bets, users take positions on how a game or key metrics will play out.
Available Game Markets
- Game outcome
- Point spread
- Alternate spreads
- Total points (over/under)
- Alternate totals
As tip-off approaches, contract pricing adjusts continuously based on news, injuries, and overall market activity. Once the game begins, users can continue trading, with values updating in real time to reflect what’s happening on the court. This creates a live, flexible experience where positions can be opened or closed at any stage before the final result.
NBA Futures Markets
I prefer to bet on futures with the NBA Playoffs, focusing on choosing a team to win the Western Conference, Eastern Conference, or the NBA Championship. You can also take a team to win a series, which give you a chance to find an upset for some better return on investment.
Below, we’ll take a look at three potential trades to make on the NBA Finals winner and the Eastern Conference winner.
Spurs to win the NBA Championship
The Spurs have gone on a remarkable run in the second half of the NBA season. San Antonio has a 30-3 record since February 1st.
Victor Wembanyama has taken his game to another level, arguably already becoming the best player in the world. The impact that Wemby has on both ends of the floor is truly spectacular.
Then you had two rock-solid guards in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. It’s a well-rounded group that can go all the way, coming in at 4th in Offensive Rating and 3rd in Defensive Rating.
Yes, the Thunder are a historic team that is looking to repeat as NBA champions. But the Spurs may be the only team that can stop them. San Antonio had some success against Oklahoma City throughout the year, beating them in the NBA Cup and going 4-1 in the season series.
If they can get through OKC, it’s unlikely that any team in the East can stop them.
Knicks to win the Eastern Conference
That’s why I’m not taking an Eastern Conference team to win it all. It just doesn’t feel likely that they’ll be able to upset a team in the West, whether that’s the Thunder, Spurs, or another team like the Nuggets.
However, the Knicks look like a value to get to the NBA Finals. This is an experienced group led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby.
The Knicks came close to getting to the NBA Finals last year before they fell short against the Pacers.
This team also had a strong finish to the season, winning five of its last six games. They’re also a balanced group that came in at 3rd in Offensive Rating and 6th in Defensive Rating.
On top of that, the Knicks were great against the Celtics this year, who are their main threats in the East, winning three of the four meetings.
With that in mind, we’ll bet on New York to get to the NBA Finals.
