2018 NBA Conference Finals Betting Preview
The NBA conference finals matchups are set after a quick second round that saw every series conclude in five games or less.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Boston Celtics. At Bovada Sportsbook, the oddsmakers are throwing their weight behind Cleveland as a -300 favorite on the series odds. Boston checks in as a +240 series underdog.
Cleveland is also favored in Game 1 despite playing on the road in Boston. The Cavaliers are 1-point road favorites and so far during their playoff run they’re 3-2 straight up and against the spread on the road.
Boston has been unstoppable at home in the postseason with a 7-0 record SU and ATS, which includes a pair of wins as the underdog. This season as a home underdog, the Celtics were 9-1 SU and 10-0 ATS.
Cleveland and Boston met up three times during the regular season and the Cavaliers were 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS. That lone SU loss came in Boston, but Cleveland is still 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 road games against the Celtics.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors will face the Houston Rockets. At Bovada Sportsbook, Golden State is a -200 series favorite and Houston is a +160 underdog. The Rockets are the favorite in the series opener, though, as a 1.5-point home favorite.
Houston has posted a 5-1 record SU and a 3-3 mark ATS at home through the postseason so far. This season the Rockets were favored by 1.5 points or less only twice, and both games were on the road. In those two games Houston was 1-1 SU and ATS, and in their last seven as a favorite of 1.5 points or less, they’re 2-5 SU and ATS.
Golden State is 8-2 SU and 5-5 ATS during its playoff journey so far. That includes going 2-2 SU and ATS on the road. This season when listed as an underdog, the Warriors were a disappointing 1-5 SU and ATS.
Houston and Golden State met up three times during the regular season and the Rockets were 2-1 SU and ATS. In their last 10 matchups, Golden State is 6-4 SU and 5-4-1 ATS. The Warriors surprisingly hold the edge in Houston, where they are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games.
If you’re looking for the latest NBA championship futures, at Bovada Sportsbook the Warriors are -140 favorites, followed by the Rockets at +250. Cleveland is a +500 underdog and Boston is the long shot at +2000.