2025 NBA Playoffs Betting Preview: Best Bets and Long Shots

The 2024-25 NBA playoffs begin Tuesday with the play-in tournament, and the first round starts on Saturday, with the winners of each best-of-seven series advancing to the conference semifinals.

So what are the best bets to consider before the playoffs begin? And which teams might be undervalued and overlooked, offering potentially high returns?

Here are insights from NBA betting experts Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick, and Steve Alexander, sharing their top picks and teams to watch.

Odds are current as of the time of publication. For the most current odds, please check with betting providers.

Top Single Bet Before Playoffs Start?

Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship (+170): I predicted the Thunder as champions before the season, and my view hasn`t changed. They are young, talented, healthy, and deep. They have been building towards this for five years, and their time is now. OKC`s second unit is strong. — Alexander

Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship (+1400): When focused, especially LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers are formidable. Despite having the fourth-best championship odds, their stars` playoff history makes them a worthwhile bet. — Moody

Donovan Mitchell to win Eastern Conference Finals MVP (+275): The Cavaliers are, in my opinion, at least equal favorites with the Celtics to win the conference, possibly outright favorites given Jaylen Brown`s knee injury and Kristaps Porzingis`s recent game availability. If the Cavs win the Eastern Conference Finals, Mitchell will likely be the key, especially against the Celtics. In his last 10 games against them, Mitchell averaged 33.7 PPG with strong shooting percentages. — Snellings

California to be the NBA Championship Winning State (+1000): This unique bet considers the strong finish of California`s contenders: Clippers, Warriors, and Lakers. The Clippers look healthy with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden is performing well, the Warriors are dangerous, and the Lakers have improved offense. With the Lakers at +1400 and Warriors with short conference title odds, this bet offers multiple paths to winning. — McCormick

Boston Celtics to win the NBA championship (+180): Despite the Cavaliers` regular season, the Celtics have consistently had better playoff odds. They have a proven track record, making them a wise bet until they are defeated. — Karabell

Top Long-Shot Bet?

Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA championship (+1400): This is appealing. A team with LeBron and Luka can`t be ignored. Despite Anthony Davis`s defensive absence, they have elite playmakers. Austin Reaves has improved, and players like Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura provide inside help. While not deep on paper, Doncic and LeBron could defy expectations. — Alexander

Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA championship (+600): While my dark horse favorites are mostly in the West, the Cavaliers are a strong East contender and a legitimate long shot. They are a 64-win team with a high scoring margin, typical of championship teams. The Celtics, the East`s other power, have injuries. At 6-1 odds, the Cavs are a capable long shot. — Snellings

Lakers to make the NBA Finals (+600): I am not biased towards the Lakers, but their playmaking gives them contending potential. While their defense needs to improve significantly, their offensive firepower is undeniable in a competitive Western Conference. — McCormick

Denver Nuggets to win the NBA championship (+3000): Ultimately, with Nikola Jokic`s triple-doubles, coaching changes may not matter. This is an experienced team, and any coaching disruption might even motivate them. Jokic could carry them to the title. — Karabell

Best Bet Among Top Championship Favorites (OKC, Boston, Cleveland)?

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Eastern Conference Finals path is less challenging, and Cleveland finished the regular season strong offensively and defensively. Donovan Mitchell is expected to be ready for playoffs. They have depth, good shooting, All-Star guards, and strong defensive bigs like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. — Moody

Cavaliers: Mainly due to the odds. I still anticipate a Thunder-Celtics Finals, but favorites offer less value. Among the top three, the Cavaliers are the best bet. — Karabell

Oklahoma City Thunder: Their offensive and defensive balance is reminiscent of prime San Antonio Spurs. While the Warriors dynasty had elite defense, it relied on a unique player. The Thunder`s defense is collective strength based on length, athleticism, youth, and toughness. Teams with the Thunder`s dominance level often succeed. While Celtics and Cavaliers are great, the Thunder are poised to set a new league standard. — McCormick

Most Undervalued Playoff Team?

New York Knicks: Often overlooked in the East behind Cavaliers and Celtics due to their record against them, the Knicks, with Jalen Brunson and supporting talent, can beat anyone in a series. As the third seed with +1000 East odds, history is on their side: recent third seeds like 2022 Warriors and 2021 Bucks won the championship. — Moody

LA Clippers: The Clippers have been consistently strong, fielding multiple All-Stars. Kawhi Leonard is healthy, Norman Powell has emerged, Harden is performing, Ivica Zubac is underrated, and Kris Dunn is a defensive asset. Derrick Jones Jr. adds bench depth. If Harden performs in playoffs, they could be a surprise. — Alexander

Milwaukee Bucks: They might exit in the first round, or if Damian Lillard returns in Round 1, they could make a deep run. The odds are long, making them an interesting bet. — Karabell

Finals MVP Bet Right Now?

Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+2800): With attention on Thunder, Celtics, and Cavaliers` stars, Doncic`s odds are too good to ignore. He led the Mavericks to the Finals previously. If the Lakers win, Doncic will be central to it. His playoff career averages are impressive: 30.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.0 assists. — Moody

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+175): While Jokic`s triple-double season is historic, Gilgeous-Alexander should win regular-season MVP due to OKC`s league-leading record and his stats. Finals MVP will likely come from the champion, and if the Thunder win as I expect, he`s their most likely MVP. — Alexander

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (+1600): Brown was not only Finals MVP last season but also Eastern Finals MVP. His odds might be slightly lower due to a knee injury, but many players are likely playing through issues. The Celtics and Brown have championship experience. Don`t overcomplicate it. — Karabell

Any Other Bets You Like?

Houston Rockets to win the championship (+8000): For a sleeper bet, the Rockets are interesting. They are a young, rising team similar to where the Thunder were recently. Coach Ime Udoka is excellent, and they have talented young players like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, and veteran Fred VanVleet. They play good defense, can score, are well-coached, and their odds are very attractive for a long shot. — Alexander

California to be the NBA Championship Winning State (+1000): This bet is appealing because Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, and Kings are all in the postseason. The Lakers are the strongest contender, but playoffs are unpredictable. The Warriors and Lakers have championship experience. — Moody