After a grueling regular season, the NBA Playoffs are upon us. Of course, the playoffs can be no less grueling since teams have to win four playoff series in a row to be crowned champions. Nevertheless, the level of intensity is always kicked up a few notches during the playoffs. If you want to get into the action from a betting standpoint, we wanted to go over some of the best bets to win the 2024 NBA title. Keep in mind that these aren’t just the leading favorites but also the teams with excellent value from a betting perspective.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics appear to be the clear favorites to win the 2024 NBA title. Boston ran away with the Eastern Conference during the regular season and finished with the best record in the league. They were also perfect at home during the regular season. That matters because the Celtics will have home-court advantage in every series. In other words, to win a series against the Celtics, you’ll have to win at least one game in Boston, which is no easy task.
For those reasons, most of the top sports betting sites list Boston as a clear favorite both in the Eastern Conference and to win the NBA championship. Many of those sites are also offering a welcome bonus to new users who sign up.
Denver Nuggets
Let’s not forget that the Nuggets are still the reigning NBA champions. The biggest reason for Denver’s championship last year was Nikola Jokic, and he remains the best reason why the Nuggets have a chance to repeat as champs. Jokic is just shy of averaging a triple-double this season, as he only manages a mere nine assists per game to go with over 26 points and 12 rebounds per game. He also has Jamal Murray and a strong supporting cast that brings back a lot of experience from last year’s title run, making the Nuggets an obvious contender.
Los Angeles Clippers
Don’t let a somewhat modest regular-season record fool you; the Clippers are bonafide title contenders. The trio of James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard is as good as any in the league right now. The Clippers may not have clicked throughout the season, but they’ve turned things up a notch late in the season and figure to be at their best during the playoffs, making them a scary team.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder has been neck-and-neck with the Nuggets for most of the regular season. It’ll be fascinating to see how they fare in the playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken his game to another level, averaging over 30 points per game. They also have one of the best frontcourt tandems in the league with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. While they might lack playoff experience compared to some other teams, the Thunder has the talent to go deep in the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks
In the Eastern Conference, the Bucks might be the only team that can challenge the Celtics. By adding Damian Lillard during the offseason, Milwaukee has a second star to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo. On talent alone, the Bucks are a title contender with those two. However, the Bucks struggled late in the season and were hit with some uncertainty when Antetokounmpo got hurt late in the regular season. But if he’s healthy, the Bucks are capable of beating anybody.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are another team with a deceiving regular-season record. They played a large chunk of the season without Joel Embiid. However, Embiid returned from his injury late in the regular season and the Sixers immediately became a different team. Philly’s problem is having a long and difficult road to reach the NBA Finals. It also might be too soon for Embiid to put the team on his back. However, he’s still the reigning MVP and he’ll have Tyrese Maxey with him, making the 76ers an interesting dark horse during the NBA Playoffs.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are another team that’s gone toe-to-toe with Denver in the standings all season. Anthony Edwards is even better than he was last season and has become a bonafide superstar. Meanwhile, the T’Wolves have an X-factor in Karl-Anthony Towns, who got hurt in March but is expected to be part of Minnesota’s playoff push. If Towns can get up to speed quickly and gel with his teammates after missing more than a month of action, the Timberwolves will be a team to watch closely during the playoffs.
