2023-24 NBA championship odds: Celtics remain favorites, Clippers move up

National Basketball Association

Updated Dec. 27, 2023 2:35 p.m. ET

We’re just shy of a third of the way through the NBA regular season, and the Boston Celtics (+340) remain alone at the top of the oddsboard as the favorites to win the NBA title.

In addition to being the lone favorites, the Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference (23-6).

Behind them is the defending champion Denver Nuggets at +420. Denver sits at second place in the Western Conference. The Nuggets’ odds recently lengthened from +400 to +420.

Rounding out the top three are the Milwaukee Bucks, who sit at +460.

Let’s take a look at every team’s title odds.

CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS FOR 2023-24 NBA SEASON:*

Boston Celtics: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)

Denver Nuggets: +420 (bet $10 to win $52 total)

Milwaukee Bucks: +460 (bet $10 to win $56 total)

Phoenix Suns: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)

LA Clippers: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)

Philadelphia 76ers: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)

Los Angeles Lakers: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)

Minnesota Timberwolves: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)

Dallas Mavericks: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)

Oklahoma City Thunder: +3200 (bet $10 to win $330 total)

Miami Heat: +3600 (bet $10 to win $370 total)

Golden State Warriors: +3600 (bet $10 to win $370 total)

Sacramento Kings: +3600 (bet $10 to win $370 total)

Cleveland Cavaliers: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

New York Knicks: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

New Orleans Pelicans +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)

Indiana Pacers: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)

Orlando Magic: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

Atlanta Hawks: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)

Memphis Grizzlies: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)

Houston Rockets: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total)

Chicago Bulls: +24000 (bet $10 to win $2,410 total)

Toronto Raptors: +24000 (bet $10 to win $2,410 total)

Brooklyn Nets: +31000 (bet $10 to win $3,110 total)

Portland Trail Blazers: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

Washington Wizards: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

Charlotte Hornets: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

Utah Jazz: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)

San Antonio Spurs: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

Detroit Pistons: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

* Odds as of 12/27/2023

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Phoenix‘s title odds dipped last week from +650 to +700 after star guard Bradley Beal suffered an ankle injury. Beal is expected to miss two to three weeks. And now that the Suns have dropped three straight, their title odds have lengthened even more to +1000.

Shooting up the odds list was the LA Clippers, who moved from +3000 to +1400 after going on a nine-game winning streak. The Clips got back on track with a win over Charlotte after losing two, and the team’s odd shortened even more to +1200.

FOX Sports NBA Analyst Ric Bucher gave his prediction for the NBA Finals prior to the start of the season, and as he sees it, neither the Celtics nor Bucks will claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

FOX Sports NBA Analyst Ric Bucher’s picks:

“Yes, the Nuggets lost a couple of key contributors in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, but they also have a core that is in its prime, signed through next season — meaning no personal contract agendas — and is now bolstered by the collective understanding of exactly what it takes to win it all. That puts them on par with the current nuclei in Golden State and Milwaukee.

“The difference? Those teams are exiting their prime. The Nuggets are entering it. Oh, and they have a 7-foot riddle, Nikola Jokić, for which no one in the league appears to have the answer.”

Long-shot bet to make playoffs

“The Thunder are currently the 11th-best team in the Western Conference, based on their odds to win the conference title. That almost certainly won’t be where they are at season’s end. I would count on them being one of the eight playoff contestants, even if it requires coming in through the Play-In Tournament.

“The depth and versatility of their roster, led by All-Star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, defensive stopper Lu Dort, Inspector Gadget Chet Holmgren and crafty Josh Giddey, might be one of the league’s best-kept secrets.”

PICK: Thunder (+8500 at time of pick, bet $10 to win $860 total) to make playoffs

PICK: Celtics-Nuggets reach NBA Finals (+900 at time of pick, bet $10 to win $100 total)

PICK: Nuggets to win NBA title (+550 at time of pick, bet $10 to win $65 total)

So, are you throwing some cash on the Bucks or Celtics to win it all? Or do you like Bucher’s pick, the defending champion Nuggets?

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