NBA Championship Odds - NBA Finals Betting Lines 2023

The NBA season is on its last legs, as the battle for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is now set, with the Denver Nuggets winning the West for the first time ever, and the Miami Heat rallying from the play-in tournament to win the East.

We've seen crazy NBA playoff odds movement over the past six weeks, with the Heat's upset-filled run playing a huge part. And sportsbooks are tabbing Miami as a considerable underdog yet again for the NBA Finals.

Can this postseason get any crazier? Let's check in on the latest NBA championship odds before Thursday's Game 1.

2022-23 NBA Championship odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each team from regulated sportsbooks. Analysis below may not match live odds.

NBA Finals odds over time

NBA Championship favorites

Denver Nuggets (-350)

The Denver Nuggets have done it: They can erase their name from that dreaded list of teams that have never made the NBA Finals — many of whom haven't been in the league anywhere near as long as Denver.

Nikola Jokic, who has been absolutely clinical in the playoffs, dropped another triple-double (because, of course) in sweeping the Lakers, battling back from 15 down and holding on for a 113-111 Game 4 win.

The Nuggets are peaking at the right time. Jamal Murray's apparently back somewhere close to Bubble Mode, the role players are all delivering when needed (the value of the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown offseason acquisitions can't be understated), and Denver's playing competent-to-inspired defense when it matters most. 

The West champs got a massive rest edge on a Heat squad that looks every type of tired right now, and will get to flex their mile-high homecourt edge in Ball Arena's thin air to start the Finals. 

Best NBA futures bonuses

If you're signing up for a new Sportsbook for NBA futures betting, here are two of the best bonuses* available:

A) New users at FanDuel can bet $5 and get $150 in free bets! Sign Up Now

B) Get a no-sweat NBA SGP or SGPx every day throughout the playoffs at DraftKings! Opt-in Now

*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Miami Heat (+280)

Miami had every reason to fall flat in Game 7 — on the road, against a more talented and deeper team, with absolutely zero momentum after a trio of deflating losses. Instead, the Heat came out and pistol-whipped the Celtics 103-84 behind 28 points from Jimmy Butler, and a very loud 26 from almost-ECF-MVP Caleb Martin. 

The Heat thus become just the second 8-seed ever to make the Finals, but they'll have their work cut out for them, as they're likely rightfully exhausted after a brutal series, have worn their playoff rotation thin, and give up both homecourt and a talent edge to the Nuggets, particularly with how Bam Adebayo's been playing on offense. 

One hope for the Heat is the possible return of Tyler Herro, who's been out since the beginning of the postseason with a broken hand. But his status remains uncertain, and while Heat fans have to be optimistic after what they've done so far in these playoffs, Denver will be their toughest mountain to climb yet. 

Covers NBA betting tools
  • NBA odds
  • NBA picks
  • NBA player props
  • Best NBA betting sites
  • Today's NBA matchup info

Understanding NBA Finals odds

Sportsbooks will post NBA Finals futures as early as the summer before the season starts. These NBA futures are constantly adjusted throughout the offseason as players get hurt or are traded. Once the regular season begins, NBA finals odds will change daily as teams win and lose games and as more players are injured or traded. Sportsbooks will also adjust the NBA title odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.

NBA Championship odds will usually look like this:

  • Milwaukee Bucks +240

This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $240 if the Bucks win the NBA title. If it's close to the end of the regular season or even during the playoffs and the NBA has a very dominant team, you might see that a team is has a minus sign (-) ahead of its odds. 

  • Golden State Warriors -150

This means that if you bet on the Golden State Warriors during the 2018-2019 NBA season you would have needed to bet $150 to profit $100 if the Warriors won the championship.

Above we have posted the American odds for the NBA championship. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool.

Past NBA Finals winners

The Golden State Warriors hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy once again in 2022 despite being a distant fourth in opening NBA Championship odds.

Here are the last 10 NBA Finals winners along with their opening odds in mid-June.

Season NBA Finals Winner Opening odds  Runner up
2021-22 Golden State Warriors +1,200 Boston Celtics
2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks +500 Phoenix Suns
2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers +1,800 Miami Heat
2018-19 Toronto Raptors +6,600 Golden State Warriors
2017-18 Golden State Warriors -168 Cleveland Cavaliers
2016-17 Golden State Warriors +215 Cleveland Cavaliers
2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers +300 Golden State Warriors
2014-15 Golden State Warriors +2,500 Cleveland Cavaliers
2013-14 San Antonio Spurs +1,000 Miami Heat
2012-13 Miami Heat +250 San Antonio Spurs

Teams with the most NBA Championships

Team NBA championships
Los Angeles Lakers 17
Boston Celtics 17
Golden State Warriors 7
Chicago Bulls 6
San Antonio Spurs 5
Philadelphia 76ers 3
Detroit Pistons 3
Miami Heat 3
New York Knicks 2
Houston Rockets 2
Golden State Warriors 7
Chicago Bulls 6
San Antonio Spurs 5
Philadelphia 76ers 3
Detroit Pistons 3
Miami Heat 3
New York Knicks 2
Houston Rockets 2
Golden State Warriors 7
Chicago Bulls 6
San Antonio Spurs 5
Philadelphia 76ers 3
Detroit Pistons 3
Miami Heat 3
New York Knicks 2
Houston Rockets 2

No team has ever enjoyed a longer stretch of dominance than the Celtics, who won eight straight championships from 1959 to 1966. The franchise's stunning superiority was due in large part to the spectacular play of Bill Russell, who won 11 titles in his 13 years in the league.

More NBA futures odds
  • MVP odds
  • NBA 2022-23 win totals
  • Rookie of the Year odds
  • Defensive Player of the Year odds

NBA Championship odds trends

  • The Western Conference has won 13 of the last 20 NBA Championships.

  • A No. 1 seed has won the championship in 10 of the last 20 seasons.

  • The last time a non-Top-3 seed won the championship was 1995 (Houston, No. 6).

  • The Golden State Warriors have won four of the past seven NBA titles, and been Western Conference champions in two of those three seasons they didn't lift the Larry O. 

How to bet NBA Finals odds

There are many strategies to consider when making an NBA futures bet on which team will win the championship. Obviously, you're looking to bet on who you think can navigate through the NBA playoffs and come out on top. So just because a team is in first place at the NBA All-Star break, it doesn't mean that's the best roster to win in the postseason. 

One thing to consider is the conference the teams play in because a team needs to win its conference before it can win the NBA title. The West has long been considered the better of the two conferences, but the East's depth of elite teams hasn't been this great in decades. 

Also, consider how an injury may affect a futures bet. Let's say the Milwaukee Bucks are a heavy favorite to win the Eastern Conference and a short favorite to win the NBA title. But what happens if Giannis Antetokounmpo gets hurt? In that case, a futures bet on another East contender has tremendous value. 

Other things to consider are strength of schedule, and even load management. Maybe a team is undervalued in the futures market because it has played the more difficult portion of its schedule early on. Or perhaps a team has more losses than it should because it has been sitting its best player on the second half of back-to-back games all season. 

Check out more insight into how to bet on basketball.

2023-24 NBA Championship Odds

Team Opening Odds
Celtics Boston Celtics +500
Nuggets Denver Nuggets +550
Bucks Milwaukee Bucks +650
Suns Phoenix Suns +800
Lakers Los Angeles Lakers +850
76ers Philadelphia 76ers +1,100
Clippers Los Angeles Clippers +1,200
Warriors Golden State Warriors +1,200
Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies +1,500
Mavs Dallas Mavericks +2,000
Heat Miami Heat +2,200
Cavs Cleveland Cavaliers +2,500
Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans +2,800
Kings Sacramento Kings +3,000
Knicks New York Knicks +3,500
Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves +4,000
Hawks Atlanta Hawks +5,000
Thunder Oklahoma City Thunder +5,500
Raptors Toronto Raptors +5,500
Nets Brooklyn Nets +9,000
Trail Blazers Portland Trail Blazers +10,000
Bulls Chicago Bulls +10,000
Pacers Indiana Pacers +15,000
Magic Orlando Magic +15,000
Wizards Washington Wizards +15,000
Jazz Utah Jazz +15,000
Spurs San Antonio Spurs +30,000
Hornets Charlotte Hornets +30,000
Rockets Houston Rockets +50,000
Pistons Detroit Pistons +50,000

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 17, 2023.

Where to bet on the NBA Finals

If you're in a state that allows mobile, or online betting, make sure you know which sites are the best basketball betting sites. The best betting sites offer sharp odds, quick payouts and are safe and secure when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your money. 

NBA Championship Odds FAQs

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A stone wall more than 30 meters high containing hundreds of giant dinosaur foѕѕіɩѕ more than 2 million years old has just been ᴜпeагtһed in Italy

Image
In a ɡгoᴜпdЬгeаkіпɡ archaeological discovery, a stone wall soaring over 30 meters in height has unveiled its secrets in Italy, revealing a mesmerizing array of giant dinosaur foѕѕіɩѕ dating back more than 2 million years . The monumental find has sent ripples of exсіtemeпt through the scientific community and captivated the imaginations of enthusiasts worldwide. The imposing stone wall, previously concealed by the passage of time and layers of eагtһ, emerged as a repository of ancient treasures that have defied the ages. Stretching skyward, it became a living testament to an eга long past, where сoɩoѕѕаɩ dinosaurs once roamed the eагtһ. The magnitude of the find became apparent as researchers meticulously exсаⱱаted the site, unearthing not just one or two, but hundreds of well-preserved dinosaur foѕѕіɩѕ. The foѕѕіɩѕ, fгozeп in time for over 2 million years, offer an unprecedented glimpse into the prehistoric world, unveiling the diversity and scale of these magnificent c...
Read more

Judge denies defendant's motion to dismiss Georgia election case over alleged paperwork error

Image
The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case has denied Kenneth Chesebro's motion to dismiss his case over an alleged paperwork error by a prosecutor. The judge overseeing the Georgia 2020 election interference case has denied a motion from defendant Kenneth Chesebro to dismiss his case over an alleged paperwork error by one of the prosecutors. Chesebro had alleged that Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was brought in by the district attorney to help investigate the election interference case, didn't file the oath of office required to join the DA's team. His motion alleged that Wade filled out the oath of office paperwork , but did not file it as required by law until just last week -- an error that Chesebro said makes Wade's work "void as a matter of law." MORE: Georgia election case defendant seeks dismissal of charges due to prosecutor's alleged paperwork error In his order on Friday, Judge Scott McAfee said that...
Read more

Fitch downgrades US credit rating, citing mounting debt and political divisions

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the United States government’s credit rating, citing rising debt at the federal, state, and local levels and a “steady deterioration in standards of governance” over the past two decades WASHINGTON -- Fitch Ratings has downgrade d the United States government's credit rating , citing rising debt at the federal, state, and local levels and a “steady deterioration in standards of governance” over the past two decades. The rating was cut Tuesday one notch to AA+ from AAA, the highest possible rating. The new rating is still well into investment grade. The decision illustrates one way that growing political polarization and repeated Washington standoffs over spending and taxes could end up costing U.S. taxpayers. A lower credit rating , over time, could raise borrowing costs for the U.S. government. It's only the second time in the nation's history that its credit rating has been cut. In 2011, the ratings agency Standard & Poor’s stripped ...
Read more