The 2024 NBA Finals are set, and it's a matchup that few would have anticipated when the season began. The Dallas Mavericks overcame long odds and challenging series against the top-seeded Thunder and third-seeded Timberwolves to advance to the league's championship round for the first time since 2011.
They'll now face the Boston Celtics, who have cruised through the postseason against a trio of overmatched and undermanned teams in the Heat, Cavaliers, and Pacers. The Celtics enter Game 1 as 6-point favorites and are -215 favorites to win the series outright and add an 18th banner to the rafters of TD Garden.
Stay tuned here as we bring you updated betting analysis, the latest props markets, and other postseason news as the NBA championship odds heat up.
NBA Finals expert predictions
| Writer | NBA Finals Winner | NBA Finals MVP |
|---|---|---|
 Andrew Caley |
 Mavericks |
Luka Doncic |
 Douglas Farmer |
Mavericks |
Luka Doncic |
 Jason Logan |
 Celtics |
Jayson Tatum |
 Jon Metler |
Mavericks |
Luka Doncic |
 Ryan Murphy |
Celtics |
Jayson Tatum |
 Rohit Ponnaiya |
Celtics |
Jayson Tatum |
Picks made prior to the NBA Finals.
Boston Celtics favored heading into NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics spent the last month of the regular season in cruise control, long since wrapping up homecourt throughout the playoffs.
Early depth concerns after gutting their rotation to acquire Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were mitigated by just how dominant Boston's Top 6 has been, while the likes of Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and even Payton Pritchard rose to the occasion all season.
The Celtics cruised through the playoffs' first three rounds, but subtle concerns have persisted among pundits and the fanbase's more cynical members (more on that below).
Jayson Tatum remains a comfortable NBA Finals MVP odds favorite, still seen as the alpha on a team rich with star talent.
Should Celtics be worried?
The Celtics are still the odds-on NBA championship odds favorites, but that may have as much to do with their once-biggest foes falling one-by-one (of the teams with the Top 7 opening odds to win the championship, Boston's the only one remaining) as anything the Celtics have done for the past month.
While their 12-2 record and 10.1 net rating in the playoffs are stellar on the surface, there remains perhaps-legitimate concern that these Celtics haven't exactly overcome past playoff flops.
The reliance on 3-point variance creates constant swings. The crunch-time offense remains very hero-ball-y. The home track record speaks for itself (and not fondly). And while Tatum's unquestionably a Top-10 player, he's probably raised the most doubts about his playoff consistency of anyone in that tier.
Boston was gifted an easy pass to the Eastern Conference Finals, and looked much shakier than it should've trying to close out a mismatched Cavs team missing its two best players and a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. The Celts then fumbled multiple double-digit leads in Game 1 against the Pacers, and ultimately didn't win the game so much as Indiana lost it, with a closing stretch marred by questionable execution and a string of brain-fart turnovers from both teams. Indiana just sucked more.
Elite hating by ESPN 💀 pic.twitter.com/qQvxkdM9jV
— BrickWrld (@BRICKW0RLD) May 22, 2024
ESPN wasn't "hating", just stating facts. The Celtics haven't been able to get over the hump, largely because they've failed to play their best ball on the biggest stage, and consistently assert themselves over weaker foes.
2024's first three rounds did very little to truly test the Boston, and even then, cracks showed. Yes, Kristaps Porzingis — a huge part of this team's identity — will return soon, but it's never a good sign when Marcus Morris, in the year 2024, is carrying an underdog and keeping it in a playoff game against you.
Dallas Mavericks X-factor: Luka Doncic
It may seem stupid to say the best player on the Mavs is their X-factor, but Luka Doncic’s postseason performance is something the Celtics haven’t messed with yet.
Boston has had the luck of the Irish in the tournament, with opponents’ best talents going down with injuries. And on top of that, the C’s always have the best player on the floor in Jayson Tatum. Until now.
Doncic torched the T-Wolves’ tough defense for 32 points and near triple double per game in the West finals on two bad legs. Now, with the finals giving him a week off, Luka is locked and loaded to beat up Boston.
Boston Celtics X-factor: Kristaps Porzingis
If the "Unicorn" can return to the Celtics lineup, Boston gets its biggest X-factor back.
The former Maverick is a two-way troublemaker, using his length to protect the rim and giving Dallas’ defense fits on pick-and-roll schemes. He’s much more active than Al Horford and gives Joe Mazzulla favorable lineup options.
Porzingis is a better outside shooter than Minnesota’s bigs and can stretch the Mavericks' interior, opening up things inside for the Celtics' slashers. The 10-day break between games is just what the Celtics needed to get their X-factor back in the mix.
Best NBA futures bonuses
All UsersInstant payout for NBA moneylines
If your team goes up by 20+! Claim Now
See our bet365 sportsbook review
New UsersGet a no-sweat first bet
Up to $1,500! Claim Now
See our betMGM sportsbook review
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
NBA Finals correct score odds
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Celtics 4-1 |
+340 |
| Celtics 4-3 |
+350 |
| Celtics 4-2 |
+475 |
| Mavericks 4-2 |
+550 |
| Celtics 4-0 |
+600 |
| Mavericks 4-3 |
+800 |
| Mavericks 4-1 |
+1,200 |
| Mavericks 4-0 |
+1,900 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of June 1, 2024.
NBA Finals total game odds
| Number of games | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 5.5 | -150 |
| Under 5.5 | +125 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of June 1, 2024.
NBA Finals exact game odds
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| 7 games | +220 |
| 6 games | +230 |
| 5 games | +255 |
| 4 games | +450 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of June 1, 2024.
Opening odds suggest fans could get their money's worth when the Celtics and Mavs tangle in the NBA Finals. The most likely outcome points to a full seven-game series with the Celtics emerging as the last team standing.
2024 NBA Finals schedule
| Game | Date/Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | June 6 @ 8:30 pm ET | TD Garden |
| Game 2 | June 9 @ 8:00 pm ET | TD Garden |
| Game 3 | June 12 @ 8:30 pm ET | American Airlines Center |
| Game 4 | June 14 @ 8:30 pm ET | American Airlines Center |
| Game 5 (if necessary) | June 17 @ 8:30 pm ET | TD Garden |
| Game 6 (if necessary) | June 20 @ 8:30 pm ET | American Airlines Center |
| Game 7 (if necessary) | June 23 @ 8:00 pm ET | TD Garden |
2023 NBA Finals
The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Finals in five games over the Miami Heat.
The NBA championship trophy is named after Larry O'Brien, the third commissioner of the NBA, who served from 1975 to 1984. The trophy was previously known as the Walter A. Brown Trophy and was renamed in honor of Larry O'Brien in 1984.
Jerry West is the all-time leader in career points in NBA Finals history with 1,679 points. LeBron James ranks second with 1,562 career points. Other active players in the top 50 include Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving.
Bill Russell has won the most NBA championships with 11 titles during his 13-year playing career. He also holds the record for the most career wins in the NBA Finals, with 45 wins. The Top 5 players with the most appearances in NBA Finals are Bill Russell, Sam Jones, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson.
