Round 2 of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs is underway, and little has changed atop NBA championship oddsboards.
The Western Conference’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and the defending-champion Boston Celtics remain the favorites to meet in the NBA Finals. And the Eastern Conference top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers are still third on the list despite a home loss in Game 1 of the East semifinals.
We take a closer look at the title odds and outlooks for all eight remaining team below.
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NBA title odds: Oklahoma City Thunder (best value: +140 at BetMGM)
MVP-favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have had nine days of rest since sweeping the eight-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1.
Next up are the dangerous Denver Nuggets, which split the four regular season meetings against OKC and will be looking to reprise the Dallas Mavericks’ second-round series upset of the top-seeded Thunder a season ago.
Oklahoma City, though, is deeper and more experienced this spring and has home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
NBA title odds: Boston Celtics (+195 at BetMGM)
The defending champs dispatched the Orlando Magic in five games in the first round and have beaten their Round 2 foe, the New York Knicks, in eight of their last nine meetings.
But even with the team’s impressive depth, health questions are swirling around the Celtics with Jayson Tatum (wrist), Jrue Holiday (hamstring) and Jaylen Brown (knee) all battling ailments to one degree or another.
NBA title odds: Cleveland Cavaliers (+700 Caesars)
The Cavs swept the Miami Heat in record-setting fashion in the opening round, but then Round 2 opened Sunday with a 121-112 home loss to the Indiana Pacers.
And adding injury to insult, three of Cleveland’s top four scorers — Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (ankle) and De’Andre Hunter (thumb) — are battling injuries.
That’s far from ideal facing a confident Pacers squad that has now beaten the Cavs in four of five meetings this season and now has the home-court edge in the series.
NBA title odds: Minnesota Timberwolves (+1500 at Fanatics)
The Los Angeles Lakers entered the playoffs occupying the No. 4 spot on NBA title oddsboards, but Anthony Edwards and Co., made short work (4-1) of them in a mild Round 1 upset.
Now the sixth-seeded Timberwolves suddenly find themselves favored with home-court advantage in a second-round matchup against Golden State.
And, if they can advance there, Minnesota went a combined 6-2 against OKC/Denver during the regular season.
TheLines: Golden State a Historic Underdog vs. Minnesota
NBA title odds: Golden State Warriors (+2800 at FanDuel)
Steph Curry and Co., nearly squandered a 3-1 series lead against the second-seeded Houston Rockets in Round 1 before dominating the fourth quarter on the road to win Game 7.
The Warriors’ playoff-proven core of Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler is garnering bettor respect, but does the seventh seed have enough gas in the tank to get past the likes of the young and talented Timberwolves and Thunder and make another Finals run?
NBA title odds: Denver Nuggets (+4000 at DraftKings)
The 2023 champs were impressive in rallying from a 2-1 series deficit to dispatch the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.
But despite Jokic’s continuing brilliance, depth and coaching experience — interim coach David Adelman has been at the helm for a grand total of 10 games since stepping in for the fired Michael Malone — remain major question marks for Denver.
NBA title odds: Indiana Pacers (+4500 at DraftKings)
Suddenly, a second consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearance feasibly seems to be within reach for Indy given its Game 1 win in Cleveland and the Cavs’ injury issues.
Definitely keep an eye on Tyrese Haliburton and Crew who are playing with momentum and confidence.
NBA title odds: New York Knicks (+5500 at Caesars)
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks outdueled the young but dangerous Detroit Pistons 4-2 in the first round, setting up a meeting against the nemesis Celtics who have dominated the head-to-head series of late (see above).
That’s one reason why the Knicks remain the longest of shots to reach their first NBA Finals since 1999.