2024 NBA Finals Prediction: Latest Odds, Best Bets, and Dark Horse Pick Following All-Star Break

This 2023-24 NBA Finals prediction and best NBA bets are brought to you by various sportsbooks, including Bovada. Bovada is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the 2024 NBA season to the UFC and everything in between.

The NBA All-Star festivities are officially in the rearview as the league resumes the regular season on Feb. 22. The majority of the NBA will now spend the next few months vying for playoff positioning before competing for the ultimate prize: winning the 2023-24 NBA Championship.

Even though the postseason doesn’t begin until April, it’s never too early to start thinking about championship picks.

Projecting a title winner is never easy, which is why Betting News is here to help. Let’s look at the NBA Finals odds following the All-Star Break, as well as my predictions and dark horse pick when it comes to who’s hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season.

2023-24 NBA Finals Odds Following All-Star Break

The following 2023-24 NBA Finals odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 11:10 a.m. ET. 

• Boston Celtics (+250)
• LA Clippers (+430)
• Denver Nuggets (+500)
• Milwaukee Bucks (+700)
• Phoenix Suns (+1400)
• Oklahoma City Thunder (+2000)
• Minnesota Timberwolves (+2200)
• Dallas Mavericks (+2500)
• New York Knicks (+2500)
• Cleveland Cavaliers (+2800)
• Los Angeles Lakers (+3000)
• Miami Heat (+3300)
• Philadelphia 76ers (+3300)
• Golden State Warriors (+3500)
• Sacramento Kings (+6000)
• New Orleans Pelicans (+7000)
• Indiana Pacers (+10000)
• Orlando Magic (+25000)
• Atlanta Hawks (+50000)
• Utah Jazz (+60000)
• Chicago Bulls (+75000)
• Houston Rockets (+75000)
• Brooklyn Nets (+100000)
• Charlotte Hornets (+100000)
• Detroit Pistons (+100000)
• Memphis Grizzlies (+100000)
• Portland Trail Blazers (+100000)
• San Antonio Spurs (+100000)
• Toronto Raptors (+100000)
• Washington Wizards (+100000)

2024 NBA Finals Pick: Boston Celtics (+250)

The Boston Celtics are Bovada’s +250 favorite to win this year’s NBA Finals and it’s hard to go against them as the best pick.

We’ve seen a lot of good teams throughout the 2023-24 campaign, but none of them have been more consistent than the Celtics. Boston has been near the top of the standings throughout the season and currently leads the East with a 43-12 record following the break, sitting six games ahead of the second-place Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Celtic’s success thus far stems from elite play at both ends of the court, sitting inside of the top five regarding points scored and allowed. The well-balanced effort has resulted in Boston outscoring its opponents by an average of 10.1 points per game, which is the No. 1 average scoring margin in the Association.

That’s without mentioning how the C’s have one of the best perimeter offenses, averaging 16.2 threes made (1st) on 38.0% shooting (5th). Even when their shooting isn’t on point, the 55.0 rebounds they average per game highlight their ability to capitalize on mistakes.

With All-Star-level players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White, few teams have the depth to go toe-to-toe with the Celtics in a seven-game series. As long as the quintet remains healthy, Boston’s championship odds will remain solid.

After reaching five of the last seven Eastern Conference Finals and reaching the NBA Finals two years ago, it’s finally time for the Celtics to end their championship drought.

2024 NBA Finals Prediction: Boston Celtics (+250)

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NBA Championship 2024 Dark Horse Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers (+2800)

If you were to advocate for a Cavaliers title run earlier this season, you would’ve sounded crazy. After all, Cleveland was one of the more inconsistent teams early on to the point where there was discussion regarding a potential Donovan Mitchell in-season trade.

Rather than panic and blow everything up, though, the Cavaliers held on to their pieces and it paid off. As we approach the end of February, the Cavs are one of the hottest teams in the league, going 23-5 SU across their last 28 games while their 82.1% winning percentage since Dec. 16 is the best mark in the NBA.

Their run has seen them go from a potential playoff team to a legitimate championship threat.

If the old saying “defense wins championships” is true, Cleveland is in good shape. The Cavaliers have held 14 of their last 28 opponents to 106 or fewer points, which includes limiting seven of them to a double-digit point total. Although some of those performances came against weaker opponents, Cleveland did hold the Milwaukee Bucks to 100 or fewer points in their last two meetings, proving that it can defend well against tougher foes, too.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Cavaliers navigate the remainder of the regular season. If they keep their gas on the pedal and remain one of the best teams in the league, their title odds could shorten quickly.

With that in mind, it’s best to back Cleveland as an NBA Finals dark horse pick sooner rather than later.

2024 NBA Finals Dark Horse Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers (+2800)

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2024 NBA Finals FAQ

When are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• The 2023-24 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 6, and should be wrapped up by Sunday, June 23.

Where are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• The location of the 2023-24 NBA Finals will be determined once there is only one team remaining from each conference in the playoffs.

How can I watch the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• Every game of the 2023-24 NBA Finals will be airing on ABC.

Where can I bet on the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• Basketball bettors can wager on this year’s NBA Championship on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends:

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