NBA Championship Odds: Nets Grab Top Spot
With just over a month before the NBA playoffs tip off, the Brooklyn Nets have taken over top spot in NBA championship futures odds.
On the latest NBA futures at Bovada Sportsbook, the Nets are the favorites at +230, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers at +350. The Nets finally welcomed back Kevin Durant last week following a lengthy 23-game layoff due to injury.
Durant returns but big three still awaiting reunion
Brooklyn is still waiting to get its big three – Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving – in the lineup at the same time as Harden has missed all three games since Durant’s return. With their full lineup, including the recent additions of Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Nets look almost unbeatable on paper, but bettors would like a good look at this full squad before the playoffs begin.
The Lakers have their own injury problems with LeBron James and Anthony Davis both still sidelined and expected to remain out for at least a few more weeks. It’s no secret that without James and Davis, the Lakers’ chances of repeating as NBA champs are slim to none. Los Angeles has already fallen from being a +250 favorite in the NBA odds to its current standing at +350 and another slide wouldn’t be surprising if James or Davis doesn’t return strong late in the season.
Rounding out the top five in the NBA futures are the Los Angeles Clippers at +550, the Utah Jazz at +850 and the Milwaukee Bucks at +1000.
Home-court advantage could be crucial for Jazz
The Clippers are also dealing with injuries to Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Patrick Beverley. The most serious of those is Beverley, who is expected to be sidelined until May, while Leonard and Ibaka could return sometime this week. Despite the injuries, the Clippers have quietly won six straight and nine of their last 11.
The Jazz continue to roll along with the best record in the NBA. They’re also incredibly tough at home at 25-3 this season, which could be a game-changer if they can clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Utah is also 4-2 straight up and against the spread this season against the Nets, Lakers and Clippers.
The Bucks have been without star Giannis Antetokounmpo for their last five games, during which they’re 2-3 SU. Even with Antetokounmpo, the Bucks look like they’re no match for Brooklyn on paper, and they’ve lost three of their last four against the Nets.
Sixers tied with Nets atop Eastern Conference
Two teams that may see their odds change in the coming days are the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. The 76ers, who believe it or not are tied with Brooklyn for the best record in the Eastern Conference, are listed at +1300. The 76ers are also 4-1 in their last five against the Nets.
The Nuggets began the week at +1400 on the futures, but they may be destined for a fall after losing Jamal Murray for the season due to a knee injury. A month ago, Denver was listed at +3500 and may be headed back in that direction without Murray.