While the NBA playoffs are a great build-up of drama and occasional surprise, the NBA Finals are the true show-stopper: A star-studded clash with legacies at stake, where fortunes can change as quick as a chase-down block, ruptured Achilles, or improbable offensive rebound-into-lazer-accurate-corner-three.
The NBA odds entering the postseason have the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets as clear consensus favorites to make it out of the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, but there are plenty of other foes who, if all breaks right, could wind up pulling off a shocking upset.
As the playoffs begin to paint the picture that 2024 will be remembered by, we've got you covered for all things NBA Finals, including odds, picks and predictions, and need-to-know info.
NBA Finals odds
The NBA Finals odds will evolve as the Playoffs continue, with teams' odds improving based on their success (games won, margin of victory), difficulty of anticipated opponents, and health of relative contenders.
NBA Finals picks
While the Finals haven't been set yet, the Covers squad of NBA analysts is looking into their crystal balls at which teams will be left standing when the postseason dust settles.
Our experts are going mostly chalk, with the betting markets also moving further towards a Celtics-Nuggets matchup in the NBA Finals.
We'll revisit these picks down the road and see how on-point these NBA Finals predictions were. You can also check back here when the Finals matchup is decided for complete game-by-game analysis and NBA picks.
| Writer | Pick (odds) |
|---|---|
| Rory Breasail |  Nuggets over Celtics |
| Andrew Caley |  Thunder over Celtics |
| Douglas Farmer | Nuggets over Celtics |
| Jon Metler |  Celtics over Mavericks |
| Ryan Murphy | Nuggets over Celtics |
| Rohit Ponnaiya | Celtics over Nuggets |
| AJ Salah | Nuggets over Celtics |
NBA Finals MVP Odds
The NBA Finals MVP goes to the most valuable player in the championship series. Sportsbooks have NBA Finals MVP odds on the board at the start of the NBA Playoffs and shrink that list to the remaining teams as the postseason plays out.
| Player | Team |  |
|---|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics |
+240 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets |
+330 |
| Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics |
+900 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo |  Milwaukee Bucks |
+1,600 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |  Oklahoma City Thunder |
+1,600 |
| Kawhi Leonard |  Los Angeles Clippers |
+1,700 |
| Luka Doncic |  Dallas Mavericks |
+1,700 |
| Joel Embiid |  Philadelphia 76ers |
+1,900 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | Boston Celtics |
+2,200 |
| Anthony Edwards |  Minnesota Timberwolves |
+2,500 |
Odds as of 4-18-2024
2024 NBA Finals schedule
| Game | Date/Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | June 6 @ TBA | TBA |
| Game 2 | June 9 @ TBA | TBA |
| Game 3 | June 12 @ TBA | TBA |
| Game 4 | June 14 @ TBA | TBA |
| Game 5 (if necessary) | June 17 @ TBA | TBA |
| Game 6 (if necessary) | June 20 @ TBA | TBA |
| Game 7 (if necessary) | June 23 @ TBA | TBA |
NBA Finals format
The NBA Finals take place between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, following a best-of-seven format. The team with the better regular-season record is awarded homecourt advantage, hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6.
Where to watch the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals will air on ABC in the United States. Mike Breen will handle play-by-play duties for the 19th straight year, flanked for the first time by his new lead broadcast team: industry icon Doris Burke and former NBA veteran JJ Redick, joined on the sidelines by Lisa Salters. Those without cable can stream the games live on Fubo and NBA League Pass.
How to bet on the NBA Finals
The NBA Playoffs bring out plenty of new bettors looking to wager on basketball for the first time. If you fit this category, let us teach you how to bet on basketball with some betting basics and tips for tackling the basketball world’s biggest competition.
Where to bet on the NBA Finals
Basketball betting is booming, and the NBA has embraced it with open arms. Basketball’s popularity spawns fun and unique ways to wager on the action almost all year round. Where you bet on basketball is just as important as what you bet, and we review the best basketball betting sites available in your region.
NBA Finals FAQs
The NBA Finals will be broadcast on ABC.
The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA title, defeating the Miami Heat 4-1.
The 2024 NBA Finals will be from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 23 (if necessary).
The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series and will go until one of the contenders wins four games.
