Sports Betting 101: How To Bet On NBA Futures Now And Avoid Regret
The NBA Conference Semifinals have started and insiders know now is the best time to lock in a bet on any of the eight teams remaining to win the 2019 NBA Finals.
That’s because the NBA Futures markets in the eight US states with legal sports betting apps are constantly changing as the NBA Playoffs move forward.
The numbers are updated after every game in each of the NBA Conference Semifinals series. Plus, as the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders, the odds on the favorites to win it all only decrease.
That means it’s a good idea to lock in a bet on your pick to win it as soon as you can. Because for most teams the odds are never going to get any better than they are right now.
NBA futures markets at legal US sportsbooks are easy to follow. The sportsbooks will list all eight teams left in the NBA playoffs and post moneyline odds on each to win the NBA title this year. Positive numbers represent how much a $100 bet on that team will pay. Negative numbers represent how much you need to bet to win $100.
The 2019 NBA Conference Semifinals
The two Western Conference Semifinals have the Golden State Warriors taking on the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets up against the Portland Trailblazers.
The defending NBA champion Warriors have already taken a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with the Rockets courtesy of a 104-100 Game 1 win Sunday. Game 1 of the Denver-Portland series is set for Monday night.
The two Eastern Conference Semifinals include the Toronto Raptors versus the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks versus the Boston Celtics. Toronto took a 1-0 lead over Philadelphia with a convincing 108-95 win on Saturday. Plus, the Celtics upset the Bucks 112-90 on Sunday to steal home-court advantage and a 1-0 lead.
The Golden State Warriors are still the favorites to win the Western Conference and the NBA Finals at most legal US sportsbooks.
However, things are less obvious in the Eastern Conference. No team is a true moneyline odds favorite two in the East. Plus, the odds on Toronto to win it all have dropped to equal or lower than top-seeded Milwaukee at most sportsbooks after the way both semifinals started.
Current NBA Futures odds
Here’s a look at the NBA Futures markets at three of the top sportsbooks in the country as of Monday, April, 29, including DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey, and SugarHouse Casino in Pennsylvania:
| 2019 NBA Futures | DraftKings (NJ) | FanDuel (NJ) | SugarHouse (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State | -155 | -175 | -155 |
| Houston Rockets | +600 | +700 | +600 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +700 | +750 | +700 |
| Toronto Raptors | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Boston Celtics | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2200 | +2600 | +2200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +2500 | +2600 | +2500 |
| Portland | +3500 | +5000 | +3500 |
Most legal US sportsbooks will also allow you to bet on who will win each conference, each semifinal series, each game, and various player and game props surrounding all the action.
Betting on the NBA Futures market is an easy process at PA sports betting facilities, NJ sports betting operations, and sportsbooks in Nevada, Delaware, Mississippi, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and New Mexico. Just pick the team you think is capable of winning it all and lock in the best price you can as soon as you can.
As you can see from the chart above, prices vary, so it’s a good idea to shop around at different sportsbooks if you can. Then, lock in the bet at a favorable price now, before the team’s chances of winning an NBA title increase and the odds go down.
The rest of the NBA Playoffs
The NBA Playoffs will continue with the Conference Finals tentatively scheduled to begin either May 14 and 15 or May 12 and 13. The 2019 NBA Finals are set to start May 30.
Enjoy the games and make sure you do it with no regrets by getting a bet down on your pick to win it all while the prices are still reasonable.
And if you want to look further ahead, you can always bet on the NBA draft.
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