NBA Finals Odds 2024: Celtics Are Title Favorites, 76ers Fall After Embiid Injury

sportsbookreview.com

24 April 2023

NBA Finals Odds 2024: Celtics Are Title Favorites, 76ers Fall After Embiid Injury

Our best sports betting apps have the Boston Celtics as the consensus favorites to win the 2024 NBA Finals, while the Philadelphia 76ers are falling by the latest NBA odds after the Joel Embiid injury.

The Boston Celtics have been the NBA Finals favorites for most of the 2023-24 season. That remains the case this week, especially after the injury to reigning NBA MVP winner Joel Embiid hurt one of their fellow contenders.

The Philadelphia 76ers have seen a dip in their title odds across our best sports betting sites after Thursday's news that Embiid would be sidelined for an undetermined period due to a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee. Does that open the door for the Milwaukee Bucks to make a run in the Eastern Conference?

Here is our look at the top 2024 NBA Finals odds from our best NBA betting sites, along with some appealing targets.

NBA Finals odds 2024

(odds updated Feb. 1)

NBA Finals favorite 2024

Celtics (+300 via DraftKings)

The Celtics are trading as consensus +300 favorites with a low price of +280 offered by FanDuel, and their road to the NBA Finals potentially gets easier if Embiid has to miss significant time - or even the entire season - for the dark-horse 76ers.

Philadelphia faces so many questions with its top star, while the Milwaukee Bucks are dangerous but still finding their way after a midseason coaching change. This feels like it could be Boston's year, especially if it can secure home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

It's no surprise that the Celtics have been one of the most popular bets to win the title this year, and with so many other teams facing major adversity in 2023-24, this team feels like the clear front-runner heading into February.

NBA Finals odds 2024: Contender

Nuggets (+450 via DraftKings)

Much like Boston's odds, the Nuggets haven't seen much movement besides leaping Milwaukee. They still occupy the favorite position for all Western Conference teams. The Nuggets are virtually unbeatable at home, so much like Boston, the No. 1 seed will be crucial the deeper they get into the postseason.

Denver has somewhat flown under the radar this season even after winning it all, as they're quietly playing elite basketball with new additions such as Reggie Jackson. This team is still very deep and talented, and if healthy, it should probably occupy the top odds over Boston.

NBA Finals odds 2024: Long shot

Thunder (+2000 via DraftKings)

These 20/1 odds are a great long-shot take for a team that has the potential to go deep. The lack of experience likely catches up with Oklahoma City the deeper it goes, but the Thunder will be fan favorites to root for along with a great value price. If they continue to trend upward, their price will shorten in multiple markets, including this one.

NBA Finals odds 2024: Fade

76ers (+2000 via FanDuel)

It's unfortunate that Embiid's career has been derailed in so many ways by injury. Even though he won MVP last year, he's still consistently struggled to stay healthy enough for a deep postseason run for the 76ers.

That once again appears in doubt with Thursday's news that Embiid has a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee. Even if this doesn't sideline him for an extended period, it's a worrying reminder of why this team is so hard to back in the futures market.

Recent NBA champions

NBA Finals betting analysis

The 76ers were trading at 12/1 or shorter across all of our best sportsbooks before the latest injury news regarding Joel Embiid. Now they're priced as high as 18/1, and even that's a price we wouldn't touch.

The ripple effect on the rest of the NBA Finals odds market was less stark but still notable. Boston is now a consensus +300 or shorter everywhere, which wasn't the case before, and the Nuggets retain a firm grip on the No. 2 spot.