NBA Cup Odds 2024: Thunder New Favorites Ahead of In-Season Tournament Semifinals
The 2024 NBA Cup odds from our best NBA betting sites continue to shuffle, with the group stage of games over in the second In-Season Tournament, and two teams on to the semifinals.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder advanced with victories on Tuesday. The Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will compete on Wednesday for the final two spots in the semis.
The Boston Celtics remain the consensus NBA championship odds favorites, but an opening-night loss to the Atlanta Hawks led to them being eliminated from their group and missing out on the wild-card spot because of point differential.
The Emirates NBA Cup Final will be on Dec. 17 in Las Vegas (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Emirates NBA Cup odds 2024
Live NBA In-Season Tournament odds via our best sports betting sites.
NBA Cup odds favorite 2024
Thunder (+200)
What's happened between last week and now that's pushed the Thunder past the Knicks in the NBA Cup odds? Well, simply put, the Thunder have already played their quarterfinal matchup, and the Knicks still await theirs. Oklahoma City is two wins away from a championship, while New York is three.
It's also notable that the Thunder took down the star-studded Dallas Mavericks with relative ease. They led by as much as 20, and were led by a masterful 39-point performance from NBA Cup MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City's only slip up in the In-Season Tournament thus far was a stunning defeat at the hands of a Victor Wembanyama-less San Antonio Spurs team, but it didn't cost them a spot in the bracket, and they've made the most of their opportunity in the knockout stage to this point.
All that awaits OKC a spot in the NBA Cup Final is a game against the winner of the Warriors-Rockets tilt on Wednesday, two teams that the Thunder would likely be favorites over. Assuming that means a draw against the Bucks, Knicks or Hawks in the finals, and it could be a marquee matchup for the trophy on Dec. 17.
With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, the Thunder are rightfully priced as the favorites. A $10 bet would return $20 in profit.
Best odds: +200 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 33.33%
NBA Cup quarterfinals predictions
NBA In-Season Tournament MVP odds
We're starting to see some separation in the NBA Cup MVP oddsboard, as we now know which six teams remain in the field after the first round of quarterfinals.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way in what remains a tight race, with Giannis Antetokounmpo trailing right behind. Both of their teams have advanced to the next stage of the tournament.
Emirates NBA Cup schedule
- Nov. 12: NBA Cup begins ✅
- Dec. 3: NBA Cup group stage concludes ✅
- Dec. 10-11: NBA Cup quarterfinals
- Dec. 14: NBA Cup semifinals
- Dec. 17: NBA Cup championship
How to bet on the NBA Cup
Betting on the NBA In-Season Tournament (NBA Cup) odds is pretty straightforward. First, pick a sportsbook offering odds on the tournament. Check the odds for different teams; for example, if the Lakers are at +400 and the Celtics are at +600, the Lakers are favored to win.
Decide how much you want to bet and place your wager. If you bet $100 on the Lakers at +400 and they win, you’ll get $500 back ($400 profit + $100 stake). Keep an eye on team performances during the tournament to see how your bet is shaping up.
Now, why do odds move in future markets? It’s all about team performance and public perception. If a team starts playing better or worse than expected, their odds will adjust. Injuries to key players or changes in team dynamics can also affect the odds.
Additionally, if a lot of people are betting on a particular team, sportsbooks might shift the odds to balance their risk. Expert analysis and media coverage can also sway public opinion, influencing how people bet and causing odds to move.
How to read NBA Cup odds
Reading NBA In-Season Tournament (NBA Cup) odds is easy. Odds are usually displayed in formats like +400 or -150. Positive odds (e.g., +400) indicate how much profit you'd make on a $100 bet.
So, a $100 bet at +400 odds would win you $400, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $500. Negative odds (e.g., -150) show how much you need to bet to win $100. For example, a $150 bet at -150 odds would win you $100, plus your $150 stake, totaling $250.
These odds also give you a sense of the implied probability of a team winning the tournament. Lower odds (e.g., +200) suggest a higher likelihood of winning, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower likelihood. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like team performance, injuries, and public betting trends.
For example, if the Lakers have +400 odds and the Celtics have +600 odds, the Lakers are considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on the Lakers and they win, you’d get $500 back ($400 profit + $100 stake). Understanding these odds helps you gauge potential returns and make informed betting decisions.
NBA Cup FAQs
How does the NBA In-Season Tournament work?
All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2023-24 regular season.
Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12 and continuing through Tuesday, Dec. 3, each team will play four designated group stage games on “Cup Nights” – one game against each opponent in its group. Two games will be played at home and two on the road.
Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the team with the best standing in group stage games in each of the six groups and two “wild cards."
The knockout rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 11). The semifinals and championship will be played in Las Vegas on Dec. 14 and Dec. 17, respectively.
Who is the NBA Cup favorite?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA Cup favorites with odds of +200 representing an implied win probability of 33.33%.
What do you get for winning the NBA In-Season Tournament?
The teams will compete for a prize pool and the NBA Cup championship trophy.
Who won the NBA In-Season Tournament last year?
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers to win the first edition of the NBA In-Season Tournament.
When will the NBA Cup be decided?
The 2024 NBA In-Season Tournament tipped off on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in team markets and culminate with the semifinals (Saturday, Dec. 14) and championship (Tuesday, Dec. 17) taking place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The complete schedule was released in August.
Do NBA In-Season Tournament games count toward team records?
All 67 games across both stages of the NBA Cup will count toward the regular season standings except the championship.
Each team will continue to play 82 regular season games in the 2024-25 season, including those games that are part of group play and the knockout rounds.
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