We’re into the 2024 portion of the NBA regular season.
The Boston Celtics (+300) remain alone at the top of the oddsboard as the favorites to win the title.
Boston was at +340 at the beginning of January.
In addition to being the lone favorites, the Celtics have the best record in the league (34-10).
Behind them are the defending champion Denver Nuggets at +430.
Rounding out the top three are the Milwaukee Bucks at +480.
One team, however, has made a leap up the betting board and that’s the LA Clippers. In the last week, their odds shortened to +850 from +1100.
LAC’s 18-4 record since Dec. 1 is the best in the NBA during that span. The Clippers’ 27-14 overall record is currently fourth in the Western Conference.
Let’s check out the title odds for every team.
CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS FOR 2023-24 NBA SEASON: *
Boston Celtics: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Denver Nuggets: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)
Milwaukee Bucks: +480 (bet $10 to win $58 total)
LA Clippers: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Philadelphia 76ers: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Phoenix Suns: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Minnesota Timberwolves: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Oklahoma City Thunder: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)
Los Angeles Lakers: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Miami Heat: +3400 (bet $10 to win $350 total)
Dallas Mavericks: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
New York Knicks: +4200 (bet $10 to win $430 total)
Sacramento Kings: +4600 (bet $10 to win $470 total)
New Orleans Pelicans +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Cleveland Cavaliers: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Golden State Warriors: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Indiana Pacers: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Orlando Magic: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)
Atlanta Hawks: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)
Houston Rockets: +21000 (bet $10 to win $2,110 total)
Chicago Bulls: +24000 (bet $10 to win $2,410 total)
Utah Jazz: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total)
Toronto Raptors: +60000 (bet $10 to win $6,010 total)
Brooklyn Nets: +60000 (bet $10 to win $6,010 total)
Memphis Grizzlies: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Portland Trail Blazers: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Washington Wizards: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Charlotte Hornets: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
San Antonio Spurs: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Detroit Pistons: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Odds as of 1/23/2024
FOX Sports NBA analyst and writer Ric Bucher applauded the Clippers’ recent success and placed them at No. 5 in his recent NBA Power Rankings.
“The LA Clippers also continued their recent surge, moving into the top five for the first time this season with a light week of work at home, beating the then second-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets.”
Another team making a small jump up the list is the 76ers.
Philly moved to +1100 from +1200 overnight after Joel Embiid’s historic 70-point performance. Similarly, Embiid’s MVP odds shortened to +130 from +800 in the wake of him dropping 70 against San Antonio on Monday.
So, which team will win it all at the end of the season?
For that, we turned to Ric Bucher.
FOX Sports NBA Analyst Ric Bucher’s picks*:
“Yes, the Nuggets lost a couple of key contributors in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, but they also have a core that is in its prime, signed through next season — meaning no personal contract agendas — and is now bolstered by the collective understanding of exactly what it takes to win it all. That puts them on par with the current nuclei in Golden State and Milwaukee.
“The difference? Those teams are exiting their prime. The Nuggets are entering it. Oh, and they have a 7-foot riddle, Nikola Jokic, for which no one in the league appears to have the answer.”
Long-shot bet to make playoffs
“The Thunder are currently the 11th-best team in the Western Conference, based on their odds to win the conference title. That almost certainly won’t be where they are at season’s end. I would count on them being one of the eight playoff contestants, even if it requires coming in through the Play-In Tournament.
“The depth and versatility of their roster, led by All-Star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, defensive stopper Lu Dort, Inspector Gadget Chet Holmgren and crafty Josh Giddey, might be one of the league’s best-kept secrets.”
PICK: Thunder (+8500 at time of pick, bet $10 to win $860 total) to make playoffs
PICK: Celtics-Nuggets reach NBA Finals (+900 at time of pick, bet $10 to win $100 total)
PICK: Nuggets to win NBA title (+550 at time of pick, bet $10 to win $65 total)
Editor’s note: Picks made prior to the start of the NBA season
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