2024 NBA Finals odds, preview & picks: Will the Celtics win it all?

With the chapter closing on the 2023-24 NBA regular season, it’s time to begin the race for the NBA Finals and the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Here’s a look at our NBA Finals picks and predictions for the upcoming postseason:

NBA Finals odds 2024: Celtics, Nuggets lead the pack

The Celtics are the out-and-out favorites coming off a dominant season in an Eastern Conference that is not as deep as the Western Conference.

Denver leads a flock of championship suitors out West, having secured the first seed for the second straight year and being even better defensively than they were last year.

The Clippers are third in odds despite obvious concerns of health relating to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and a recent downswing in form. Following them are the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves, who spent most of the year near or at the top of their conference standings.

2024 NBA Finals futures bets, picks and odds

NBA Finals odds: Dallas Mavericks to win (+1600 or better)

There is no better offensive pairing than Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Those two can dice up any defense and also significantly raise their game in big moments, which is why the Mavs were 23-9 in clutch games.

The trade-deadline acquisitions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford improved their offensive game and also allowed their defense to jump to one of the best units in basketball.

Dallas went on a massive winning streak at the end of the year and is arguably the hottest team in basketball. Discount them at your own peril.

NBA Finals odds: Boston Celtics to win (+145 or better)

Don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t need to. Boston was the most dominant team, has the deepest and most versatile personnel, and has a straightforward path to the Finals.

The C’s ability to dominate the 3-point line on both ends while also punishing mismatches and having the ability to switch everything on defense makes them a juggernaut. They also have the benefit of Joel Embiid only recently returning from an injury, and Giannis Antetokounmpo going down with a calf injury in the final week of the season.

There are questions about Boston’s late-game execution because of their tempo, but they can win the Finals in the first 46 minutes of each game so long as they continue to do what they did up to this point.

NBA Finals long shot pick: Minnesota Timberwolves (+2500 or better)

The Wolves only ranked 13th in offensive efficiency but have the league’s best defense and can match up with the conference favorite, the Nuggets, better than anyone else (on defense).

Rudy Gobert can roam behind Karl-Anthony Towns, who will guard Nikola Jokic, while Jaden McDaniels’ length and screen navigation make him the perfect player to try to guard Jamal Murray.

It’s a tall task for a team with little playoff experience, but they split the season series 2-2 and had the best road record in the West for a reason.

• READ: Top 3 NBA Finals picks to make right now

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