We’re into the play-in tournament now on the way to the start of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs on Saturday. Tonight, Atlanta visits Cleveland and New Orleans visits the Clippers to play for the eighth seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively. We have the updated NBA betting odds of each of the 18 remaining teams to win the NBA Finals, as you plan out your wagering for the weekend.
NBA News: Updated Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | +255 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +476 |
| Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics | +820 |
| Golden STate Warriors | +870 |
| Miami Heat | +950 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1300 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1480 |
| Utah Jazz | +2360 |
| Denver Nuggets | +3280 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +4120 |
| L.A. Clippers | +6100 |
| Toronto Raptors | +6640 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +7120 |
| Chicago Bulls | +10800 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +14100 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +25600 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +28600 |
New Orleans is an interesting team, as they blew out San Antonio in the play-in game. They also routed Sacramento and Portland in the last week of the regular season, and CJ McCollum seems like a man on a mission in the postseason. I didn’t expect Minnesota to get by the Clippers, which, I think, tells us more about the Clipper defense, given that late rally that Minnesota pulled off. I’m taking the Pelicans to upset the Clippers in their play-in, especially with Paul George ruled out for LA.. It’s a long, long way from the eight-seed to a title, but there is a ton of value on the Pelicans right now, so it might be worth a small wager, if you like your dark horses.
Chicago beat Minnesota on Sunday, but their record against top teams is horrendous this season. Before that win, Chicago had lost three straight, all by double figures. Milwaukee, Boston and Charlotte beat them by a total of 60 points. I don’t see the Bulls getting out of the first round this year; they are near the bottom of the odds list for a reason.
Yes, Cleveland beat Milwaukee on Sunday, but the Bucks wer resting just about everyone important. Evan Mobley came back to the lineup on Friday and had two solid games. The Cavaliers will need him and Jarrett Allen to have any hope against Atlanta on Friday night.
Atlanta blew out Charlotte in their play-in game after losses to Toronto and Miami in the last week of the regular season. Trae Young had solid games in all three contests and should look to take advantage of a Cleveland defense that can be iffy at best.
Utah won three games in the last week of the regular season – the same number of wins they got in the previous 2 ½ weeks. Their only loss came to Phoenix, as they edged Memphis, routed Oklahoma City and spanked Portland in the season finale. They look more like their perennial playoff selves, and they get a Dallas team that won’t have Luka Doncic in the series opener on Saturday.
Brooklyn won four in a row to finish the regular season and then got past Cleveland in the play-in to take the seventh seed. Their wins came over Houston, New York, Cleveland and Indiana, so they should have plenty of confidence in their rematch with the Cavaliers. After that? If Kyrie Irving can take off, then the Nets have a scary-good chance to make a run in the East.
Denver could struggle against Golden State, as they won just once in the last week of the regular season. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr possibly out for the first round, the Nuggets simply may not have the weapons to stop the Warriors.
NBA Betting Odds
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