Bank on these NBA Championship best bets

Looking at the betting odds to win the 2019-20 NBA Championship with picks and best bets.

The NBA restart is almost here and that means it’s time to look ahead to the NBA Finals. Below, we make our best bets to win the 2019-20 NBA Championship and the Larry O’Brien Trophy with all odds courtesy of BetMGM.

2019-20 NBA Eastern Championship picks: Favorite

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 20 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Milwaukee Bucks (+280)

The safest bet to win the NBA Championship is the Bucks, who have the second-best odds behind only the Los Angeles Lakers (+250). Before the NBA season was suspended, the Bucks had the league’s best record at 53-12 and will have their whole roster available to them in Orlando.

Not only do the Bucks have the No. 1 offense in basketball, but they also have a top-five defense as they possess an unbelievable amount of length and athleticism. Led by superstar PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have arguably the best player in the NBA, surrounded by a supporting cast that fits his strength.

Another reason why the Bucks are such a safe bet is due to the Eastern Conference. As a whole, the conference is weaker than usual and even more so at the bottom of the playoff bracket. The Bucks will likely be able to sleepwalk through Round 1 and there just aren’t many teams that can challenge them in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks have already proven they can have success against quality teams like the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, making it even more likely they can compete in an eventual Finals matchup.


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2019-20 NBA Eastern Championship picks: Contender

Houston Rockets (+1200)

One of the best value bets on the board is the Houston Rockets, who are 12-1 underdogs to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy. While Houston was up-and-down during the regular season, they have the ability to get red-hot and rip off a bunch of wins due to their shooting.

It also doesn’t hurt that they are experienced and have one of the top-five players in the NBA in G James Harden. With Harden nearly guaranteed to score 30 points a night, all the Rockets need are a few other role players to step up in big games. With proven players like PG Russell Westbrook, SG Eric Gordon and SF P.J. Tucker on the roster, they certainly won’t be afraid of any team in the Western Conference.

This is a great mid-range bet for bettors looking to bet on someone outside of the Lakers, Bucks or Clippers.

2019-20 NBA Eastern Championship picks: Long shot

Philadelphia 76ers (+2500)

If you are searching a long-shot bet, consider wagering on the 76ers to win the NBA Championship. In the 2019 playoffs, they took the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors to seven games and came within a few bounces of taking them down. While they are currently just the sixth-seed in the Eastern Conference, they have enough talent on their roster to compete with anyone.

If the 76ers can get favorable matchups in the playoffs, they could certainly make a run in Orlando. Don’t be surprised if this 76ers team at least reaches the Eastern Conference Finals.

Get some action on NBA futures bets by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Updated 2019-20 NBA Championship odds, picks and best bets

Looking at the 2019-20 NBA Championship odds, with NBA futures betting picks, tips and best bets.

The first quarter of the 2019-20 NBA season is in the books and we’re looking at the updated NBA Championship futures odds at BetMGM. We make our revised picks for who’ll be lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in early June.

2019-20 NBA Championship Favorites

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Lakers (+325)

The Lakers, who were +550 favorites in the summer following the acquisition of PF Anthony Davis, have dropped even lower as they’ve raced out to a 24-5 start. They’re scoring 112.6 points per game while allowing just 104.1 and showing little sign of weakness. But, as we’ve seen with the Golden State Warriors this season and last, injuries can happen. I don’t like going all-in on one team this early and a $100 bet returns a profit of just $325. There’s too much season left.

Boston Celtics (+1800)

The Celtics have been battling injuries early to PGs Kemba WalkerMarcus Smart and SF Gordon Hayward, and they’re still 19-7 and second in the Eastern Conference. They’re the top defensive team in the East with just 103.6 PPG allowed and they lost just one of their first 12 home games. They offer better than four times the odds of the conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks (+350) and are a much better play on the early futures odds.


Get some action on the 2019-20 NBA Championship by signing up and placing a bet at BetMGM!


2019-20 NBA Championship Longshots

Dallas Mavericks (+2800)

The Mavericks were one of my picks in the summer at +4200 odds. A 19-9 start to the season in which they’re scoring 117.6 PPG with 108.8 PPG allowed, has dropped those odds considerably. SF Luka Doncic is an MVP frontrunner, but the team has stayed above water during his absence due to an ankle injury. Get these odds soon, as they’ll likely drop even lower upon his return.

Portland Trail Blazers (+6000)

Fifteen teams have higher odds than the Blazers to win the championship, but they’re as deep as I’m looking. Western Conference finalists a year ago, they’ve started 14-16, but still hold the eighth seed in the conference in late December. PF Carmelo Anthony has resurrected his career as the third piece of the offense behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. C Zach Collins and C Jusuf Nurkic will return from injury in the second half of the season and bolster the frontcourt for a potential playoff run.

While the NBA is controlled by the perennial favorites, the Trail Blazers are a nice lottery ticket with their odds only going down for the remainder of the season.

Get some action on the 2019-20 NBA Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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