NBA betting, odds: Bucks' stunning loss makes the Celtics huge Finals favorites
The Milwaukee Bucks’ stunning upset loss has made the Boston Celtics the overwhelming favorites to win the NBA Finals.
The Bucks lost at home in overtime in Game 5 to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night to fall out of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The top-seeded Bucks are the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round since the Memphis Grizzlies upset the San Antonio Spurs in 2011.
Milwaukee and Boston entered the playoffs as the top two favorites to win the Finals and now the Celtics stand alone at +165 to win the title at BetMGM. Those are remarkable odds for a Celtics team that hasn’t won its first-round series just yet and still has two more series to go to even get to the Finals.
Boston plays Atlanta in Game 6 of their first-round series on Thursday night. The Celtics lead that series 3-2 after Atlanta swiped Game 5 in Boston earlier in the week.
The Celtics’ odds are so low because the Bucks are out of the playoffs and also likely because of questions about Joel Embiid’s knee. Embiid missed the end of the 76ers’ series against the Nets and could be in doubt for the start of the second-round series against the Celtics. Even with the uncertainty surrounding Embiid, the Sixers are the No. 3 favorite to win the Finals at +600.
Boston’s odds of winning the East are also better than even money because of the Bucks’ loss. Boston is now -165 to win the conference while the Sixers are +275. The Knicks are +900 to win the conference after beating the Cavaliers while the Heat are +1000.
Suns still favorites in the West
The Phoenix Suns are the No. 2 favorites to win the Finals at +400 after closing out the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. The Suns will play the No. 1 seed Nuggets in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs and Denver is at +800 to win the Finals.
The Nuggets are No. 3 among teams in the West to win the Finals as the Warriors are at +650 after their big win on Wednesday night. Golden State got a needed road win in Sacramento to take a 3-2 series lead over the Kings and can close the Kings out at home in Game 6 on Friday night.
The Lakers are at +1100 to win the Finals as they failed to close out the Memphis Grizzlies on the road Wednesday night. Los Angeles has a 3-2 series lead ahead of Game 6 at home on Friday night.
April 27 Finals odds
Boston Celtics (+165)
Phoenix Suns (+400)
Philadelphia 76ers (+600)
Golden State Warriors (+650)
Denver Nuggets (+800)
Los Angeles Lakers (+1100)
New York Knicks (+2000)
Miami Heat (+2500)
Memphis Grizzlies (+6600)
Sacramento Kings (+8000)
Atlanta Hawks (+50000)
