NBA Championship, Opening Games Odds for Season Restart in Orlando
Not a whole lot has changed at the top of the NBA Championship odds for when the season officially restarts in Orlando, Florida. Based on the latest moneyline numbers from various books, the Los Angeles remain the favorites. They’re followed by the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers, with several other teams looking like potential contenders at Disney World.
Lakers, Bucks, Clippers lead NBA title odds
Right now, Odds Shark lists LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as +190 favorites to win the NBA championship in Orlando. They’ll be on the quest to win the title despite possibly missing several key members of the roster.
At least one is confirmed, as Avery Bradley will stay home for family reasons. Big man Dwight Howard may do the same, due to a family matter, as the mother of one of his children passed away.
Coming in second on the NBA title odds list are Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Greek Freak and company held the league’s best overall record before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Bucks are currently listed at +290, followed by Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers at +300.
Rounding out the top five are the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets. The defending champion Toronto Raptors are currently sixth overall.
Of course, there are 19 other teams competing for the title and they’ll be playing a neutral bubble site. Amongst the teams fighting for playoff spots are the Grizzlies, Pelicans, Kings, Blazers, Spurs, and Suns from the West, as well as the Magic and Wizards in the East.
Based on all that, and the fact that teams are having to readjust to playing again, the title race could be more wide open than ever before.
- Los Angeles Lakers +190
- Milwaukee Bucks +290
- Los Angeles Clippers +300
- Boston Celtics +1200
- Houston Rockets +1500
- Toronto Raptors +1800
- Denver Nuggets +2200
- Philadelphia 76ers +2200
- Dallas Mavericks +3300
- Miami Heat +4000
- Utah Jazz +5000
- Brooklyn Nets +6000
- Portland Trail Blazers +7500
- Indiana Pacers +8000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +8000
- New Orleans Pelicans +10000
- Memphis Grizzlies +25000
- Phoenix Suns +50000
- Orlando Magic +75000
- Sacramento Kings +75000
- San Antonio Spurs +75000
- Washington Wizards +100000
Source: Odds Shark 6/30/20
Games begin July 30 with doubleheader
Teams will begin arriving to the bubble site at Walt Disney World Resort’s ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando in early July. They’ll get time to prepare for games, as each squad will have eight of them to play to tune, and/or determine seeds for the playoffs.
Those games will tip-off on Thursday, July 30, as a doubleheader is on the schedule. The games will feature the top superstar in the game today and the player who he could pass the torch to for the future of the NBA.
The first game will have the most hyped-up rookie since Lebron James on the court, as Zion Williamson is under the spotlight. He and the New Orleans Pelicans will face the Utah Jazz. Currently, the Pelicans are one-point favorites while the game has an over/under of 222 points.
The second game on the slate has LeBron James and the Lakers hosting Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Currently, the game is a pick ‘em situation, with an over/under of 220 points.
The doubleheader will get TV coverage on TNT. Six more games arrive on Friday, July 31. They’ll include Ja Morant and the Grizzlies playing Damian Lillard and the Blazers as well as James Harden and the Rockets against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
- Magic -2 vs. Nets (o/u 215)
- Grizzlies vs. Blazers -1 (o/u 224)
- Suns -3 vs. Wizards (o/u 229.5)
- Celtics vs. Bucks -5.5 (o/u 218.5)
- Kings -2.5 vs. Spurs (o/u 218.5)
- Rockets -1.5 vs. Mavericks (o/u 226)
Games will continue on the schedule until Friday, Aug. 14, and by then the playoff brackets may be decided, unless any playoff games are necessary to determine final seeds.
