NBA Finals Odds: Oddsmakers Give Celtics 80 Percent Chance to Win Title After Game 1

The Boston Celtics' odds to win the NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks have shot up after winning Game 1.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

It took just one game -- one quarter really -- of the 2024 NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics to show why they had the best record in the NBA in the 2023-24 season and led the league in net rating.

Boston jumped out to the biggest first quarter lead in a Game 1 in NBA Finals history, and it didn't let Dallas get closer than eight points the rest of the way in a blowout win.

The C's came into this series as -210 favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, giving them an implied probability of over 60 percent to win the title. That has already changed drastically after Boston's Game 1 win.

Latest Odds to Win NBA Championship

• Celtics: -400
• Mavericks: +310

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Based on the latest odds at DraftKings, Boston has an implied probability of 80 percent to win the NBA Finals this season. While it was only one game, it's clear that Boston's dominance has altered the betting market in a big way.

A historical trend that dates back to the 1996-97 season also favors Boston, as no team that has finished outside the top eight in net rating during the regular season has gone on to win the NBA Finals since then.

Dallas is attempting to break that trend this season.

Since the 1996-97 season, every team that won the NBA Finals finished inside the top 8 in net rating during the regular season.

This season:

1. Celtics
2. Thunder
3. Timberwolves
4. Nuggets
5. Knicks
6. Pelicans
7. Clippers
8. Suns

Knicks, Celtics the only teams in East...🤔

— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) April 18, 2024

For bettors that still believe in the Mavericks, there is something to hang your hat on after Game 1.

Jason Kidd was just 1-5 (now 1-6) in Game 1s as the Mavericks' head coach, but he's led his team to a 5-1 series record so far in two playoff runs. Kidd has made the adjustments -- and his team has responded -- after other poor showings in series openers in the playoffs this season.

As a bettor who already has a Celtics future from the preseason in pocket, I'm standing pat ahead of Sunday's Game 2 based on the latest odds movement.

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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on  BetStamp here.