2023/24 NBA Championship Betting Odds - NBA Playoffs Lines

2023/24 NBA Championship Betting Odds

Now that the dust from the play-in tournament has settled and the final eight teams in each conference have been determined, the NBA Playoffs are officially underway. All the drama that was delivered from clubs seeking to capture a playoff berth didn’t affect the Boston Celtics, who are still positioned as a solid favorite in the NBA futures market. Some backers of the club might be anxious about their first round matchup, though. I guess the good news for Boston is that they aren’t playing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Final. The Celtics were beaten in that round last year and in 2021.

The second favorite Denver Nuggets also get a conference final rematch in the first round when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Behind MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets swept the series last year and enter this series having won eight straight over LA. The Western Conference figures to be more competitive with three teams listed on the futures board behind Boston. And it was a close race during the season with Oklahoma City and Denver both winning 57 games and the Timberwolves close behind with 56. Five West teams reached the 50-win plateau while only Boston and New York hit that number in the East.

The Philadelphia 76ers would have won 50 games had Joel Embiid not missed two months with a knee injury. Philly’s championship odds shortened drastically with the return of the reigning MVP. Embiid’s return prompted the Sixers to win their last eight regular season games with Embiid on the floor for five of them. Embiid had 23 points and 15 rebounds in Philly’s play-in victory over Miami to secure the seventh seed. A championship favorite throughout the regular year, the Bucks saw their odds spike with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard hobbled by injuries entering the postseason. When healthy, the Bucks have a deep, talented roster that can challenge Boston.

NBA Betting Lines

NBA Championship Betting Odds

*Odds as of Friday, April 26, 10:00 AM ET

Boston Celtics

With one of the best regular seasons in years, the Celtics are poised to carry that into a lengthy playoff run. They’ve had some good teams during a streak of 10 consecutive playoff appearances reaching the East Final in five of the past seven campaigns, but this might be their best in that span. Another benefit of clinching the top seed so early is that minutes for star players were managed. Not only can they score with Jayson Tatum leading three players averaging double figures, the Celtics had the third best defensive rating.

Denver Nuggets

They didn’t get the top seed in the West, but the Nuggets have to like their first round matchup. Denver was money at home last postseason not losing a game to a conference foe. Their only home setback was to Miami in the NBA Finals. They swept the Lakers last year and won all three regular season games. Jokic is a matchup nightmare with his ability to do just about everything on the floor. He averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists leading a potent group of starters with each averaging more than 10 points.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are one of several teams in the second tier of favorites with all of them more than capable of going on a run. A healthy Kyrie Irving coupled with MVP candidate Luka Doncic sparked comparisons to Irving’s days in Cleveland when he another star player reached the NBA Finals three consecutive seasons winning a title. Doncic averaged 33.9 points with Irving chipping in 25.6. And the defense tightened up with in-season acquisitions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gifford.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have the most talent to challenge Boston in the East, but injuries will impact their ability to advance. The Freak missed the last few weeks of the regular season with a calf strain and hasn’t been cleared ahead of the Bucks first round series. Damian Lillard has returned but inactivity could play a role. As a result Milwaukee’s futures odds spiked. They are worth the risk, though, with improved defense and eventual return of Antetokounmpo.

Oklahoma City Thunder

They’re young with limited playoff experience but the Thunder are certainly worth keeping an eye on and I wouldn’t flinch when backing them in the futures market. The last several months were like playoff basketball for them challenging and eventually earning the top seed in the West. They boast a starting five all 25 and under with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emerging as a MVP hopeful. OKC ranked among the top four in offensive and defensive efficiency while boasting the second-best net rating.

Philadelphia 76ers

The return of Joel Embiid at least gives the Sixers optimism for a possible run. And the club came to life once he hit the floor. The Sixers closed the regular season with eight straight wins with Embiid playing in five of them. He also made a seamless return while having his playing time closely monitored. The Sixers didn’t expect to be in the play-in tournament but they had the best possible outcome winning their first game and giving the MVP time to rest. The Sixers went 31-8 during the season with Embiid on the court making them dangerous.

NBA Teams

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