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
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Denver Nuggets
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Golden State Warriors
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Miami Heat
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New York Knicks
- Sacramento Kings
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Chicago Bulls
- Toronto Raptors
- Brooklyn Nets
- Atlanta Hawks
- Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Washington Wizards
- Charlotte Hornets
- Utah Jazz
- Orlando Magic
- San Antonio Spurs
- Houston Rockets
- Detroit Pistons
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 after acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Bucks championship odds
The Milwaukee Bucks became co-favorites at 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 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 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 .
NBA awards odds
As far as how to bet on basketball in other ways, the NBA MVP race is crowded, with Nikola Jokic () leading the list of favorites, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo (), Luka Doncic (), and reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
Jokic and Jayson Tatum () 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 (), with 2022 second overall pick Chet Holmgren behind him on odds boards ().
Jaren Jackson Jr. is the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year () ahead of Cleveland’s Evan Mobley ().
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 () host the Los Angeles Lakers in a conference finals rematch, with an over/under line of 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 () host the Phoenix Suns in a contest with a line of total points. The Suns will debut their new big three of Devin Booker, Beal, and Durant against a seasoned Warriors squad.
| NBA Opening Night Matchup | Time & Channel |
| Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets | 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) |
| Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors | 10 p.m. ET (TNT) |
