The NBA Championship won’t be decided for nearly two months, but this past weekend the eight first-round series began, giving us a first look at how teams are playing in the postseason. It also provides us with a chance to update where things stand when betting on the eventual winner of the NBA title.
Current Odds to Win NBA Championship
- Nets (+200)
- Lakers (+450)
- Clippers (+700)
- 76ers (+750)
- Jazz (+800)
- Bucks (+850)
- Suns (+1400)
- Mavericks (+3000)
- Trail Blazers (+3500)
- Nuggets (+4000)
- Heat (+4000)
- Hawks (+5000)
- Grizzlies (+8000)
- Knicks (+12500)
- Celtics (+15000)
- Wizards (+15000)
Sixteen teams still have a chance at winning the championship, but it’s the big three of the Brooklyn Nets that have the bookmaker’s attention. In the Nets’ first game with Boston, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden combined for 82 points, 27 rebounds, and 10 assists, and the Nets started their quest for the title with an 11-point win.
The Lakers are the next favorite, and they remain that way even after losing Game 1 to the Suns and after LeBron James left the game briefly with an injured shoulder. If the Lakers are to justify such high odds, Anthony Davis must play better. He made just 5 of 16 shots and finished with 13 points in a disappointing start for the defending champs.
The second betting favorite in the West and third overall is the other team from LA, the Clippers. And they are another team that got off to a rough start, getting outscored 18-5 over the final six minutes of their game with Dallas and losing by 10. Kawhi Leonard managed to score just three points in the fourth quarter.
The second team in the East is Philadelphia, who got things started against the Wizards with a win. Joel Embiid was his usual steady self, scoring 30 points in Game 1. However, the real story was Tobias Harris and his 37 points and what he might mean for the Sixers going forward.
Underdogs Worth Betting
If you’re looking for longer odds to play, the Blazers (+3500) should have your attention. They have the shooters to get past Denver and make some noise later in the playoffs.
The Hawks (+5000) have a true star in Trae Young, who scored 32 points and added 10 assists in Game 1 against the Knicks. He is good enough to put this team on his back and carry them through a couple of rounds of play.
The other No. 5 seed is Dallas (+3000), who is always a threat because of Luka Doncic. If the Mavs can get past the Clippers, and the Lakers and Suns continue to beat each other up, the West could open up for Doncic’s run.
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