Two of the betting favorites to win the 2024 NBA Championship clash on Thursday night when the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Boston Celtics at the Fiserv Forum. In our latest NBA betting picks, we look ahead to the Eastern Conference showdown and tell you the best bets to place when the two giants collide.
The Bucks will be looking to end a losing streak of two, and they will also be looking for a morale-boosting victory after four defeats in their last five matches.
Standing in their way are the Boston Celtics. The Celtics hit the afterburners across the Christmas and New Year period, putting together a winning streak of six matches that has seen them open up a substantial lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.
After a couple of setbacks in recent matches, a win over their main Conference rivals will be just the tonic for the Celtics. And it will also underline their credentials as the betting favorites to win both the Eastern Conference and the NBA Championship.
The Celtics and the Bucks dominate the latest betting to win the Eastern Conference. Boston is the favorite with the best NBA sites at +125. The Bucks are the second favorites at +250.
Behind the leading two is the Philadelphia 76ers, who are +500. There is a substantial gap in the betting before we get to the beaten finalist in 2023, the Miami Heat at +1200. The New York Knicks (+1800) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (+2200) are the only other franchises that appear to be in the running.
Moving onto the latest betting to win the NBA Championship, Boston’s power surge has seen their odds cut from pre-Christmas favorites at +350, to a much more trimmed-down +275. The Denver Nuggets are second favorites at +450, with the Milwaukee Bucks out to +525. The collapse in the form of the Bucks in recent weeks will also have contributed to the cutting of Boston’s odds.
Following the leading three is the LA Clippers at +900. The Clippers have now assumed the fourth-favorites role on their own. They were sharing the betting position with the Phoenix Suns. But the Suns have continued to drift, and the best NBA finals betting sites now have Phoenix as joint-fifth favorites at +1200, along with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Home advantage and the extra 24 hours rest see the best NBA betting sites make the Milwaukee Bucks the favorites to win on the money line. The Bucks are -245, with the Celtics at +200.
On the handicap spread, the Celtics are getting a 6-point start. How often do we see that happen? To win with the spread, the Celtics are -110. Adrian Griffin’s Bucks are -110 to win and cover the spread,
On the total points spread, 240 is the line set by the best NBA betting sites. Both over and under 240 is -110. Below are more options from different sportsbooks on our NBA betting table. You can read more about the bookmakers we have used on our online sportsbook reviews page.
| Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks | -245 | -245 | -245 |
| Celtics | +200 | +200 | +200 |
| Bucks (-6) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Celtics (+6) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Over 240 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 240 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
The Bucks (25-12) are now 5-5 in their last ten, having lost four of their last five. Their latest setback came at home against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, when the Bucks went down 132-116 in a chastening defeat. The damage was done in the first quarter when the Bucks were blown away by a fast start from the Jazz, who raced into an 18-point lead (41-23).
As for the Celtics (29-8), well, they were red hot over the Christmas and New Year period. They’ve since suffered a couple of setbacks, but an overall record of 29-8 this season is impressive.
In last night’s match against the Timberwolves, the Celtics fought back admirably to beat the best from the West in overtime. Jayson Tatum was the star of the show. His 45-point haul was the main reason behind the Celtic’s comeback.
The comeback underlined the fighting and champion spirit of the Celtics. But will it have taken too much out of the legs just 24 hours before they face the Bucks?
We all know with a team as good as the Milwaukee Bucks, that form can return as quickly as it has disappeared. Despite the last five matches, the Bucks are still a good side. A win over Boston is more than possible, and it could be just what Giannis Antetokounmpo and his team do. And Antetokounmpo is in good form, logging 25 points against the Jazz on Monday night.
We see the Bucks winning. So by all means back them on the money line if you wish to at -245. But we’re not convinced about the 6-point margin they will need to win by to cover the spread.
For our main pick, we are going for under 240 points. The Bucks are out of form, and the Celtics may be a bit weary after yesterday’s outstanding effort against the Timberwolves to maintain their unbeaten home record.
Check below for our list of the top sportsbooks where you can wager online:
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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