2024 NBA Finals odds: Celtics, Bucks in dead heat after blockbuster trades

After a wild week of trades, the Celtics and Bucks have made it a two-team race at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee and Boston are so tight, in fact, that oddsmakers are having a tough time figuring out which should be the favorite as the NBA season approaches.

The pair is in a dead heat at FanDuel Sportsbook, with both teams sitting at +175 to win the East.

At Caesars Sportsbook, the Bucks are slight favorites, sitting at +160 and the Celtics at +180.

But over at PointsBet, the Celtics are the pick at +150 and the Bucks trailing at +175.

The duo heavyweights’ offseason moves have helped them pull away from the pack in the East. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers (+700) have odds better than 10/1 to come out of the conference.

The 76ers (+1000), Heat (+1100) and Knicks (+1600) are all in the mix as well, but oddsmakers clearly think the Bucks and Celtics are the class of the conference.

The Bucks, of course, traded for superstar point guard Damian Lillard to pair with two-time MVP award winner Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The move briefly made Milwaukee the clear NBA title favorites — that is, until the Celtics countered.

Days later, Boston made a blockbuster move of their own, acquiring Jrue Holiday, whom the Bucks used to bring in Lillard, from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Betting on the NBA?

Boston and Milwaukee are also at a draw for the NBA Finals favorite (+380), although the Nuggets and Suns (both +550) loom as other top-of-the-line contenders in the Western Conference.

The Lakers (+1300) and Warriors (+1700), who are the only other teams with odds better than 23/1 to win the title at FanDuel, are also lurking as potential inner-circle contenders.