By Only Players Staff
Updated 4/15/24 3:21am ET
The Boston Celtics (-175) are an odds-on favorite to reach the NBA Finals. Their regular season dominance and injuries to star players on other top contenders are skewing the futures market.
The Milwaukee Bucks (+500) have the next-shortest odds but Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed the last three games with a left calf strain and there is no timetable for his return. The Bucks are the #3 seed and open the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers (+4000). Indy won four of their five matchups during the regular season.
The Philadelphia 76ers (+800) are next in line but have yet to even clinch a playoff berth, given they are slotted to host the Miami Heat in a play-in. Additionally, Joel Embiid recently returned from a knee injury he sustained in January but also missed games this past week.
The New York Knicks (+1400) are the #2 seed, followed by the Heat with +1500 odds. The Cleveland Cavaliers (+1900) are the #4 seed and will face the Orlando Magic (+6000) in the first round.
A large factor for the skewed odds is how the playoff bracket would unfold. Teams in Boston’s path have longer odds than teams that would not have to face the Celtics until the conference finals.
Photo Courtesy: Icon Sportswire
