🏀 2025 NBA Playoff Betting Breakdown

This is the time of the season when the best teams start locking in, and the playoff picture becomes clearer. Boston is the safest bet to make it back to the Finals, but the West is where we can cash in on some value.

Get your bets in now before the odds shift post-All-Star break!

Our picks (more details below):

If there’s one thing that’s becoming obvious, it’s that the Celtics are the team to beat in the East. Sitting as the favorite at -125 to win the conference, they’ve been the most complete and consistent team all season.

Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porziņģis are cooking, their defense is elite, and they’ve been handling top teams all year.

I don’t see anyone in the East stopping them. The Cavaliers are putting up great numbers, but I just don’t think they have enough to take out Boston in a seven-game series. The Knicks are intriguing, but do they really have the firepower? The Bucks are sitting at +1200, but they’ve been inconsistent, and I don’t trust them in a deep playoff run.

Boston is the bet here to make the Finals.

The West is where things get interesting. OKC Thunder (-105) have been the best team in the West, and there’s a good chance they make it to the Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing MVP-level basketball, and they’re deep with young talent that’s stepping up in big moments.

But here’s where things get fun.

The Nuggets at +550, Lakers at +575, and Grizzlies at +1200 all have the potential to disrupt OKC’s run.

Denver Nuggets (+550): Jokic is still an absolute problem, and if they can get back to playing the type of playoff basketball they did during their title run, this team is dangerous.

At +550, you’re getting a great price on a team with championship experience.

Los Angeles Lakers (+575): They made a massive move getting Luka Dončić, and while there are still questions about their depth, Luka and LeBron in a seven-game series is scary. They have playoff experience, and they’re peaking at the right time.

Memphis Grizzlies (+1200): This is a long shot, but they’re gritty, and they’ve shown they can battle top teams when they’re healthy.

If you’re looking for a deep-value bet, this could be the play.

The best bet on the board for the NBA Finals exact matchup is Celtics vs. Thunder (+250), and if both teams keep this pace, that’s probably where we land. But, based on value and the potential chaos of the playoffs, I’m looking at Celtics vs. Nuggets (+1000) or Celtics vs. Lakers (+1500) as well.

Boston is locked in, and I expect them to take care of business in the East. The West, however, has a few teams capable of making a run, and that’s where the value lies.

Beyond the playoffs, there are some interesting futures in the awards market: