The Boston Celtics continue to be favored to win the NBA title as the playoffs approach, with odds of +165 and a league-best record of 62-17. They are also the favorites to win the Eastern Conference at -185, ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Bucks suffered a setback when superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a left calf strain, causing their odds to win the East to lengthen to +700 and their title odds to move to +1700. The defending champion Denver Nuggets are behind the Celtics on the title board at +300 and are also the favorites to win the Western Conference at +130.
In terms of updated title odds for every team at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Celtics lead at +165, followed by the Nuggets at +300, and the Los Angeles Clippers at +900. The Oklahoma City Thunder have decent odds at +1600, while the Bucks sit at +1700 after Antetokounmpo’s injury. Other contenders include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks. The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and others also have their odds listed.
Before the start of the season, FOX Sports NBA analyst Ric Bucher made some futures bets, including the Nuggets reaching the NBA Finals along with the Celtics and winning the title. Bucher compared the Nuggets to other top teams like Golden State and Milwaukee, emphasizing the depth and versatility of their roster led by Nikola Jokic. He also predicted the Thunder would make the playoffs despite being ranked 11th in the Western Conference at the time. Bucher made several other picks, including the Thunder, Celtics-Nuggets reaching the Finals, and the Nuggets winning the title.
Overall, the Boston Celtics are currently favored to win the NBA title and the Eastern Conference, with the Denver Nuggets following closely behind. Other contenders include the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers. While injuries can impact a team’s odds, there are still several teams with a chance to make a deep playoff run and compete for the championship. With the playoffs approaching, it will be interesting to see how these odds shift and which team ultimately comes out on top.
