We’ve reached what can often the most meaningful stretch of the NBA’s 82-game regular season ‒ after the NBA trade deadline and NBA All-Star Game but before the NBA playoffs seeding has been settled.
Teams are simultaneously getting their postseason rotations in order and jockeying for position, hoping for home-court advantage or to avoid the play-in tournament or salvage the season in the play-in tournament. The tanking, or load management, that often overwhelms the final few games on the schedule is still on the periphery.
But a clear pecking order at top of the NBA standings has already emerged with only about six weeks left until the NBA playoffs begin. The betting experts view the defending champion Boston Celtics and Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder as the two favorites to win the NBA title, with the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers not far behind. The Denver Nuggets and new-look Los Angeles Lakers lurk as dark horses, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and the Golden State Warriors have also seen their odds improve of late.
Here’s a breakdown of the latest NBA championship odds, with each team ranked in descending order by their likelihood of winning the title this year:
NBA power rankings by championship odds
Odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook as of Monday, March 3
T-30. Washington Wizards (+100,000)
Record: 11-48 (15th in East)
T-30. Charlotte Hornets (+100,000)
Record: 14-45 (14th in East)
T-30. Utah Jazz (+100,000)
Record: 15-45 (15th in West)
T-30. New Orleans Pelicans (+100,000)
Record: 17-44 (14th in West)
T-30. Toronto Raptors (+100,000)
Record: 19-42 (13th in East)
T-30. Brooklyn Nets (+100,000)
Record: 21-39 (12th in East)
T-30. Philadelphia 76ers (+100,000)
Record: 21-38 (11th in East)
T-30. Chicago Bulls (+100,000)
Record: 24-37 (10th in East)
T-30. San Antonio Spurs (+100,000)
Record: 25-34 (13th in West)
T-30. Portland Trail Blazers (+100,000)
Record: 27-34 (12th in West)
T-30. Atlanta Hawks (+100,000)
Record: 27-33 (9th in East)
T-19. Phoenix Suns (+50,000)
Record: 28-33 (11th in West)
T-19. Orlando Magic (+50,000)
Record: 29-33 (8th in East)
T-19. Miami Heat (+50,000)
Record: 28-31 (7th in East)
T-19. Sacramento Kings (+50,000)
Record: 31-28 (9th in West)
15. Detroit Pistons (+35,000)
Record: 34-27 (6th in East)
14. Houston Rockets (+15,000)
Record: 37-23 (5th in West)
T-13. Minnesota Timberwolves (+13,000)
Record: 33-29 (8th in West)
T-13. Indiana Pacers (+13,000)
Record: 34-25 (5th in East)
11. Dallas Mavericks (+12,000)
Record: 32-29 (10th in West)
10. Los Angeles Clippers (+8000)
Record: 32-28 (6th in West)
9. Milwaukee Bucks (+5000)
Record: 34-25 (4th in East)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (+4000)
Record: 38-22 (4th in West)
7. Golden State Warriors (+2500)
Record: 32-28 (7th in West)
6. New York Knicks (+2200)
Record: 40-20 (3rd in East)
5. Los Angeles Lakers (+1500)
Record: 38-21 (2nd in West)
4. Denver Nuggets (+1400)
Record: 39-22 (3rd in West)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (+700)
Record: 50-10 (1st in East)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (+190)
Record: 49-11 (1st in West)
1. Boston Celtics (+170)
Record: 43-18 (2nd in East)