The 2024-25 NBA season begins next Tuesday with a double-header on TNT. At 7:30 PM, the New York Knicks play the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. At 10 PM, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers will match up at Crypto.com Arena.
Betting lines are already posted for both games at a few of our favorite NBA sportsbooks.
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
- Spread: NY +5.0 (-120), Boston -5.0 (EVEN)
- Over: 223.5 (-110)
- Under: 223.5 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- Spread: Minnesota -2.0 (-110), LA +2.0 (-110)
- Over: 224.5 (-110)
- Under: 224.5 (-110)
On Wednesday, ten games are scheduled. NBA betting lines have been slow to appear for these early games, but they’re beginning to populate around the web.
Who Will Win The NBA Championship?
The last time there were back-to-back champions in the NBA was when the Golden State Warriors accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018. The Boston Celtics are so heavily favored to repeat this season that it would be a borderline upset if they didn’t cut down the nets again.
While Boston’s moneyline odds are not below zero, a rarity in preseason basketball futures, they are 275 points ahead of the best-rated team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2024-25 NBA Futures (10.18.24)
- Boston Celtics +325
- Oklahoma City Thunder +600
- New York Knicks +750
- Philadelphia 76ers +800
- Denver Nuggets +900
- Dallas Mavericks +1000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +1000
- Milwaukee Bucks +1400
- Los Angeles Lakers +2200
- Phoenix Suns +2500
- Golden State Warriors +3000
- Memphis Grizzlies +4000
- Indiana Pacers +5000
- Miami Heat +5000
- New Orleans Pelicans +5000
- Orlando Magic +5000
- Cleveland Cavaliers +5500
Compared to other teams in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics are 425 ahead of the New York Knicks and 475 ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers. This implies that Boston should cruise through the NBA Playoffs en route to a repeat championship.
The NBA Christmas Schedule
While the NFL has taken over Thanksgiving, the National Basketball League has made its best effort to claim pro sports supremacy on December 25th. The schedule of Christmas NBA games features five games that gobble up the airwaves between noon and midnight.
- San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks – Noon on ESPN
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks – 2:30 PM on ABC
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics – 5 PM on ABC
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors – 8 PM on ABC
- Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns – 10:30 PM on ESPN
Nine franchises featured on Xmas are rated among the top eleven NBA teams according to current pro basketball futures. If everything goes as projected, these contests should give fans and gamblers a solid slate of action to wager on while they open gifts and spend time with family and loved ones.
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