NBA Futures Odds Preview & Opening Night Schedule

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets stormed the NBA last season with a 16-4 postseason record en route to the first championship in franchise history. Jokic won the finals MVP after narrowly losing out on a third straight regular season MVP to Joel Embiid. 

This year, the NBA is debuting a new in-season tournament, to run from Nov. 3 to Dec. 9. Group play will be on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout November, with all results counting toward the 82-game regular season. The knockout round runs Dec. 4-7, and the finals of the tournament (which do not count toward records) will be Dec. 9 in Las Vegas. 

The NBA playoffs begin April 11-14 with the play-in tournament. The conference finals start on May 16, and the NBA Finals start on June 1. 

2023-2024 NBA championship odds

• Boston Celtics [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/boston_celtics” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Milwaukee Bucks [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/milwaukee_bucks” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Denver Nuggets [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/denver_nuggets” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Phoenix Suns [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/phoenix_suns” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Los Angeles Lakers [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/los_angeles_lakers” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Golden State Warriors [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/golden_state_warriors” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Dallas Mavericks [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/dallas_mavericks” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Los Angeles Clippers [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/los_angeles_clippers” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Philadelphia 76ers [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/philadelphia_76ers” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Cleveland Cavaliers [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/cleveland_cavaliers” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Memphis Grizzlies [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/memphis_grizzlies” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Miami Heat [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/miami_heat” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• New Orleans Pelicans [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/new_orleans_pelicans” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• New York Knicks [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/new_york_knicks” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Sacramento Kings [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/sacramento_kings” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Minnesota Timberwolves [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/minnesota_timberwolves” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Oklahoma City Thunder [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/oklahoma_city_thunder” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Chicago Bulls [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/chicago_bulls” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Toronto Raptors [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/toronto_raptors” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Brooklyn Nets [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/brooklyn_nets” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Atlanta Hawks [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/atlanta_hawks” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Indiana Pacers [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/indiana_pacers” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Portland Trail Blazers [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/portland_trail_blazers” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Washington Wizards [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/washington_wizards” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Charlotte Hornets [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/charlotte_hornets” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Utah Jazz [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/utah_jazz” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Orlando Magic [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/orlando_magic” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• San Antonio Spurs [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/san_antonio_spurs” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Houston Rockets [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/houston_rockets” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]
• Detroit Pistons [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/detroit_pistons” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]

NBA championship odds — team previews

Celtics championship odds

Coming off four straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the Boston Celtics are again among the championship favorites this preseason at NBA sportsbooks. They have the shortest odds at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/boston_celtics” site_id=”legalsportsreport”] after acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. 

Bucks championship odds

The Milwaukee Bucks became co-favorites at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/milwaukee_bucks” site_id=”legalsportsreport”] with the Celtics after acquiring Damian Lillard in a three-team deal that resulted in Holiday winding up with their conference rivals. Milwaukee has a new head coach in Adrian Griffin and is led by MVP contender Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Nuggets championship odds

The Denver Nuggets are the reigning NBA champions and remain the favorites to win the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic is the consensus MVP favorite, and the Nuggets only lost a few key pieces from their championship roster. They are [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/denver_nuggets” site_id=”legalsportsreport”] to win the title.

Suns championship odds

The Phoenix Suns made a splashy move late last season to acquire Kevin Durant, then doubled down this offseason by trading Chris Paul in a package for Bradley Beal. They added depth by getting involved with the Bucks and Blazers in the three-way deal for Lillard, and they have the second-shortest odds to win the Western Conference. They have longer odds at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/phoenix_suns” site_id=”legalsportsreport”] to win it all.

Warriors championship odds

The Golden State Warriors won their fourth title in eight seasons two years ago. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green form the most experienced veteran core in basketball, which puts the Warriors in the mix for a title at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_winner” query=”bkp/golden_state_warriors” site_id=”legalsportsreport”]. 

NBA awards odds

As far as how to bet on basketball in other ways, the NBA MVP race is crowded, with Nikola Jokic ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_mvp” query=”nba/nikola_jokic/player_13007″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]) leading the list of favorites, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_mvp” query=”nba/giannis_antetokounmpo/player_12719″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]), Luka Doncic ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_mvp” query=”nba/luka_doncic/player_104959″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]), and reigning MVP Joel Embiid.

Jokic and Jayson Tatum ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_mvp_in_season_tournament” query=”nba/jayson_tatum/player_69847″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]) are the co-favorites to win MVP of the new in-season tournament. 

Victor Wembanyama is the consensus favorite to win Rookie of the Year ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nba/victor_wembanyama/player_188716″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]), with 2022 second overall pick Chet Holmgren behind him on odds boards ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_rookie_of_the_year” query=”nba/chet_holmgren/player_174650″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]).

Jaren Jackson Jr. is the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_defensive_player_of_the_year” query=”nba/jaren_jackson_jr./player_104981″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]) ahead of Cleveland’s Evan Mobley ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”bkp/nba_defensive_player_of_the_year” query=”nba/evan_mobley/player_147571″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]). 

NBA tipoff

The 2023-24 NBA season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 24, with a doubleheader of Western Conference matchups on TNT. 

At 7:30 p.m. ET, the Denver Nuggets ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”spread-home” query=”544392″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]) host the Los Angeles Lakers in a conference finals rematch, with an over/under line of [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”overUnder” query=”544392″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”] points. The Nuggets swept the Lakers, 4-0, in the conference finals last season, but these teams have split their last six regular-season meetings. 

At 10 p.m. ET, the Golden State Warriors ([metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”spread-home” query=”544393″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”]) host the Phoenix Suns in a contest with a line of [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”overUnder” query=”544393″ site_id=”legalsportsreport”] total points. The Suns will debut their new big three of Devin Booker, Beal, and Durant against a seasoned Warriors squad.