The Brooklyn Nets’ recent slide isn’t knocking them from their status as NBA Finals favorites.
The Nets have lost eight straight entering Tuesday night’s game at home against the Boston Celtics to drop to seventh in the Eastern Conference. But Brooklyn is still +350 to win the NBA title at BetMGM and has better odds than any other team in the NBA.
Brooklyn’s losing streak has come as Kevin Durant is out with a knee injury, Joe Harris continues to be sidelined, James Harden has been up and down — and the subject of trade rumors — and Kyrie Irving can only play road games because of New York’s vaccine mandate. And while the Nets are currently outside the top six and in the play-in tournament for the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots, Brooklyn is also only five games outside of the top seed in an incredibly crowded conference.
That small gap to the top and Durant’s return before the end of the season is a big reason why the shine isn’t off Brooklyn’s title odds yet. The Nets are also a popular team with Durant, Harden and Irving, and their name recognition makes Brooklyn an enticing bet for the public. The Nets pushed the Bucks to seven games in the conference semifinals without Irving but with a hobbled Harden. It’s easy to see why bettors could believe the three could power the Nets to a championship even if Irving can only play in road games in the playoffs.
Brooklyn opened the season at +225 to win the title.
Lakers’ odds tumble
While Brooklyn’s status as the favorite hasn’t wavered so far, the Lakers are no longer the No. 2 favorite. Los Angeles opened the season behind Brooklyn at +450 to win the Finals. Now the Lakers are +1800 to win despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis both being healthy.
The Lakers’ odds got worse likely because of Russell Westbrook’s struggles. He’s been sidelined in late-game situations and hasn’t meshed with James and Davis like the Lakers clearly hoped. The Lakers also don’t have much wiggle room to add an impact piece or two before Thursday’s trade deadline and will likely have to scour the buyout market to get contributors on cheap deals.
The Lakers are currently in ninth in the West and are three games outside of the top six and a guaranteed playoff berth. While Brooklyn is still within sniffing distance of the top seed in the East, Los Angeles is 17.5 games back of the Phoenix Suns atop the Western Conference.
The Suns opened the season at +1400 to win the Finals after losing to the Bucks in the summer of 2021. The Suns are now at +500 and behind only the Nets and the Warriors (+450) to win the Finals. Phoenix’s odds are slightly worse than Golden State’s even though it has a better record, thanks to Golden State’s popularity and the possible return of Draymond Green to the court in the near future.
Big bet moves Sixers’ odds
The Philadelphia 76ers recently moved from +2000 to win the title to +1200, thanks to a massive bet. A bettor at BetMGM wagered $19,000 on Philadelphia at +2000 to win the Finals. With a potential $380,000 payoff looming, the book dropped the Sixers’ odds precipitously.
That bettor is likely hoping Philadelphia will make a move before the trade deadline. The Sixers have reportedly been reigniting their interest in James Harden and, if they tried to trade for the Nets’ star, could send Ben Simmons to Brooklyn. Simmons hasn’t played for the Sixers this season and is likely not to see the court for the team if he’s on the roster past the deadline.
Philadelphia has done well without Simmons because of the MVP-level play of Joel Embiid. But it’s hard to see how Philadelphia will succeed in the playoffs without a clear No. 2.
NBA Finals favorites
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Brooklyn Nets (+350)
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Golden State Warriors (+450)
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Phoenix Suns (+500)
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Milwaukee Bucks (+650)
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Miami Heat (+1200)
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Philadelphia 76ers (+1200)
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Utah Jazz (+1400)
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Los Angeles Lakers (+1800)
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Chicago Bulls (+2500)
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Memphis Grizzlies (+2500)