The 2023 NBA Conference Finals are here, and the odds are out for both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference Finals.
The action will begin on Tuesday with the Western Conference, as the No. 7-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will travel to take on the No. 1-seeded Denver Nuggets, which projects to be a tight series according to the oddsmakers.
The Nuggets are currently -165 favorites, with the Lakers not far behind at +140 even though the Nuggets are six-point favorites in Game 1.
The Nuggets have yet to lose a home playoff game in 2023, as they beat the Timberwolves in five games and Suns in six games in the first two rounds, and the Lakers were able to defeat the Grizzlies and the Warriors in six.
Eastern Conference action will begin on Wednesday when the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat travel to take on the No. 2-seeded Boston Celtics, and the oddsmakers aren’t expecting this one to be as close.
The Celtics are clear-cut favorites at -525 to win the series, with the Heat coming in at +400 despite an impressive playoff resume in which they beat the No. 1-seeded Bucks in five games and the Knicks in six.
While the Celtics haven’t always looked impressive in their playoff run and are coming off a seven-game series against the 76ers, they appear to have the deepest team of anyone remaining.
The Celtics are the favorite among the final four to win the NBA Finals at +105, with the Nuggets (+240) and Lakers (+300) aren’t far behind, and the Heat are a long shot at +1500.
NBA CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES ODDS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Lakers (+145) vs. Nuggets (-170)
Game 1: Lakers (+6, +205) at Nuggets (-250), 222 O/U
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Celtics (-525) vs. Heat (+400)
Game 1: Heat (+8, +285) at Celtics (-365), 210.5 O/U
NBA FINALS ODDS
Celtics (+105)
Nuggets (+240)
Lakers (+300)
Heat (+1500)
