In the last few weeks leading up to Tuesday’s opening day, we’ve been looking at projections for all 30 NBA teams for the 2026-27 season, looking for your opinion on how many games each club will win. With the pro odds lines, you voted on whether each team would be over or under a given win total, with Thunder (62.5) up to Art The necklaces (20.5).
Here are the full results of those votes:
Eastern Conference
- New York Knicks (52.5 wins): Finished (54.8%)
- Boston Celtics (51.5 wins): Under (59.1%)
- Philadelphia 76 (50.5 wins): Finished (65.6%)
- Toronto Raptors (46.5 wins): Finished (63.8%)
- Brooklyn Nets (24.5 wins): Finished (59.8%)
- Detroit Pistons (49.5 wins): Finished (69.2%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (48.5 wins): Finished (66.5%)
- Indiana Pacers (44.5 wins): Finished (57.5%)
- Chicago Bulls (29.5 wins): Finished (54.3%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (25.5 wins): Under (52.0%)
- Miami Heat (46.5 wins): Finished (66.0%)
- Orlando Magic (44.5 wins): Under (55.7%)
- Atlanta Hawks (44.5 wins): Finished (56.4%)
- Charlotte Hornets (38.5 wins): Under (59.6%)
- Washington Wizards (34.5 wins): Finished (58.9%)
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (62.5 wins): Under (68.3%)
- Denver Nuggets (49.5 wins): Finished (57.6%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (48.5 wins): Finished (71.4%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (41.5 wins): Under (52.5%)
- Utah Jazz (38.5 wins): Under (56.2%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (46.5 wins): Finished (61.7%)
- Phoenix Suns (40.5 wins): Finished (50.9%)
- Golden State Warriors (39.5 wins): Under (56.6%)
- Los Angeles Clippers (30.5 wins): Under (63.8%)
- Sacramento Kings (20.5 wins): Finished (58.5%)
- San Antonio Spurs (60.5 wins): Finished (54.1%)
- Houston Rockets (48.5 wins): Finished (71.5%)
- Dallas Mavericks (34.5 wins): Finished (63.0%)
- Memphis Grizzlies (29.5 wins): Under (62.4%)
- New Orleans Pelicans (28.5 wins): Under (59.1%)
Respondents to our survey generally choose more writers over less, with optimism in most NBA cities following a period of change. It was the same this year, when our readers switched to 19 teams and less by only 11.
These were the five “over” bets that received the highest share of votes:
Houston Rockets (48.5 wins): 71.5%- Minnesota Timberwolves (48.5 wins): 71.4%
- Detroit Pistons (49.5 wins): 69.2%
- Cleveland Cavaliers (48.5 wins): 66.5%
- Miami Heat (46.5 wins): 66.0%
Interestingly, all of these teams are essentially in the same tier of contenders, with just three wins separating their projections.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence. But with the exception of the Heat, each of those clubs won more games last season than they are projected to this year. Houston and Cleveland each won 52 games, Minnesota had 49 wins and Detroit had a whopping 60 wins. Respondents to our survey clearly do not expect these teams to take a significant step back in 2026/27.
A word of caution though. While appearing in this group of five is not necessarily the kiss of death, it is also far from a guarantee of success. Last season, the five clubs with the most upvotes in our polls were the Nuggets, Bucks, Mavericks, Warriors and Knicks.
Only one of those teams managed that over, and that team (Denver) only beat their projection by half a game. Three of the others — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State — were among the furthest behind preseason expectations, while the fifth — New York — fell half a game short of its projected 53.5 wins.
Here are the five “less” bets that received the most votes:
- Oklahoma City Thunder (62.5 wins): 68.3%
- Los Angeles Clippers (30.5 wins): 63.8%
- Memphis Grizzlies (29.5 wins): 62.4%
- Charlotte Hornets (38.5 wins): 59.6%
- Boston Celtics (51.5 wins): 59.1%
As good as the Thunder are, I understand the logic behind betting on a 63-win season. They sacrificed some depth in the offseason by trading a starting wing Lugentz is there and stock rotation Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wigginsand the NBA’s anti-tank rules will likely result in fewer easy wins in the second half of the season.
In theory, the new lottery format will deter potential non-playoff teams like the Clippers and Grizzlies from tanking, but I’m not sure what to expect from a new Los Angeles team that won’t control its own first-round pick in 2027. If the Clippers struggle out of the gate, they won’t have the same incentive to avoid a bottom-three record as some other lottery-bound clubs. would, that can do under a strong choice.
As for the Hornets and Celtics, respondents to our poll clearly expect those clubs to challenge for a repeat of last season’s success after trading stars Lamela’s ball and Jaylen Brownrespectively.
Here are the five choices closest to 50/50:
Phoenix Suns (40.5 wins): Finished (50.9%)- Milwaukee Bucks (25.5 wins): Under (52.0%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (41.5 wins): Under (52.5%)
- San Antonio Spurs (60.5 wins): Finished (54.1%)
- Chicago Bulls (29.5 wins): Finished (54.3%)
The Suns exceeded expectations last season by winning 45 games, and they really haven’t gotten any worse this offseason by trading Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neill for Luke Kennard and Miles Bridges. And yet many voters are counting on them to regress a bit.
It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from the revamped Bucks and Bulls rosters, which look very different than they did this time last year. The Trail Blazers are also a tough team to pin down — there will be a backcourt Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue’s holidayand Scoot Henderson help get the team back to the playoffs, or will this group struggle to come together?
Finally, the Spurs are in the same boat as the Thunder. They are clearly one of the best teams in the league, but with so few teams expected this season, it may be difficult for the club to win more than 60 games. San Antonio’s success also depends heavily on health Victor Wembanyamawho missed double-digit games in each of his first three NBA seasons.
What do you think of our picks overall? Are there any results above that you strongly disagree with? Have you voted up or down in the last couple of weeks, what are you thinking now? Head over to our comments section below and weigh in with your thoughts!
