NBA championship odds: Luka Doncic, Mavericks headline best buy-low picks entering the playoffs
The winner of the Mavericks and Clippers first-round series could be dangerous.
Boston Celtics versus Denver Nuggets. If the NBA Playoffs go the way oddsmakers expect them to go, that will be the 2024 NBA Finals matchup.
The Celtics lead all teams with +180 odds to win this year’s finals, so you can just imagine how short their odds are to win the Eastern Conference. To save the suspense, they’re -175, a number that almost begs bettors to root for another team.
At +300 to win the finals, the Nuggets are the only other team with title odds shorter than 12-1. Their odds to win the Western Conference are +140, with the next closest team being the Los Angeles Clippers at +600.
With two teams so heavily favored, that leaves a ton of opportunity for bettors who believe in other teams. And while I tend to side with oddsmakers on the favorites from each conference, there are reasons to believe in a few other teams. So here’s a look at BetMGM odds for every team in the field ahead of the play-in tournament and which teams provide value.
NBA Championship odds
- Celtics +180
- Nuggets +300
- Clippers +1200
- Milwaukee Bucks +1300
- Oklahoma City Thunder +1600
- Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers +1800
- Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns +2000
- Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks +3500
- Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat +4000
- New Orleans Pelicans +6600
- Golden State Warriors +8000
- Indiana Pacers +12500
- Orlando Magic +15000
- Sacramento Kings +20000
- Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls +100000
Best buy-low odds
Thunder (+700 to win West)
In just the first year of having all their young players on the court together, the Thunder were able to win 57 games and earn the top seed in the West. With a bonafide big three between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, this team can’t be counted out against anyone.
Mavericks (+800 to win West)
Take your pick here. Do you prefer the Clippers or Mavericks, who play each other in the first round? With Kawhi Leonard battling knee inflammation, I’m going with Dallas. Luka Doncic is playing at an MVP level, and the Mavericks as a whole have played better ball than LA down the stretch. They won 16 of 18 games before Doncic and Kyrie Irving sat for the final two games of the season.
76ers (+800 to win East)
I mentioned last week how I’m slowly coming around on the Sixers after seeing how quickly they responded to Joel Embiid’s return from injury, and that hasn’t changed. I know Embiid hasn’t always been great after the first round, but as one of the two best players in the East, he can’t be counted out in a weak conference. Especially with the other best player (Giannis Antetokounmpo) injured. Philly could be this year’s version of the 2023 Heat.
Knicks (+1200 to win East)
With a potential first-round series against the Sixers, one of these final two picks could end up going down immediately. But the winner of that series could end up doing some real damage. I’m just a fan of how the Knicks play, and I believe Jalen Brunson is the kind of star they can ride on a deep run.