The NBA playoff odds remain highly provisional after nine games, but the Boston Celtics’ 119-80 win over the Charlotte Hornets offered the night’s starkest contrast. Boston is 7-2 with a 90–100% playoff band; Charlotte is 3-7 and sits at 0–10%, with 30 projected wins. A 39-point result is a significant early separation, not proof that either team’s season is settled.
Boston Celtics overwhelm Charlotte Hornets
The Celtics’ 39-point margin was the largest among Friday’s results. Their 90–100% playoff band and 51 projected wins contrast with Charlotte’s 0–10% band. At this early stage, those odds remain projection-heavy, but the records and result reinforce the gap between the teams’ current outlooks.
The Atlanta Hawks beat the Washington Wizards 139-132 in the night’s highest-scoring close contest. Atlanta is 6-4 with a 90–100% playoff band and 44 projected wins; Washington is 4-5, and no playoff odds were supplied for the Wizards. The seven-point win adds to Atlanta’s record without providing a model comparison for Washington.
Eastern Conference results reshape the early comparisons
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-95, a 24-point margin between two teams currently in the 90–100% playoff band. Cleveland is 5-4 with 45 projected wins; Philadelphia is 8-2 with 48. The Cavaliers take the head-to-head result, while the 76ers retain the stronger record.
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 121-107. Toronto is 5-4 with an 80–90% playoff band and 42 projected wins; Milwaukee is 1-8 with a 0–10% band and 29 projected wins. The 14-point win fits the difference in their early records and projections.
Western results include a rout and a steady Dallas win
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97. Oklahoma City is 7-2 with a 90–100% playoff band and 50 projected wins; Memphis is 6-3 with a 70–80% band and 45 projected wins. The 31-point margin makes this the night’s second-largest blowout.
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 112-100. Dallas is 5-4 but has only a 30–40% playoff band and 41 projected wins; Utah is 1-8, and no playoff band was provided. The result improves Dallas’s record, though its model outlook remains below the teams with stronger early positioning.
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 124-109. San Antonio is 7-2; Sacramento is 1-8 and carries a 0–10% playoff band with 27 projected wins. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 in a six-point game: Los Angeles is 8-2 with a 90–100% band, while Portland is 6-2 with a 70–80% band. The Lakers secured the close finish, but both teams have strong early records.
Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets await their next meeting
Boston-Charlotte is the clearest matchup to revisit after Friday’s results, given the 39-point gap and their contrasting playoff bands. No upcoming schedule was supplied, so a date for their next meeting cannot be confirmed.
Research sources
Additional reporting checked 2026-11-07T14:01:39.268Z.
