Skip to main content

NBA In-Season Tournament Odds 2024: Celtics are Consensus Favorites

Jon Metler

Last Updated: August 16, 2023 5:55 PM EDT • 7 min 2 sec read.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles as we look at the NBA In-Season Tournament odds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles by Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2022. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu Getty Images via AFP.

The Boston Celtics remain the favorites to win the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament following the release of the schedule. Here are the 2024 NBA In-Season Tournament odds from our best sports betting apps.

I keep hearing people say that the teams and players won't care about the NBA Cup. But hey, think back to your high school days - did you go all out to win every tournament you competed in, or were you solely focused on winning your league championship?

The idea that the players and coaches won't care seems a bit silly to me. Personally, I'm super thrilled about the addition of this in-season tournament because it means one more futures market for us bettors to get invested in. I mean, who doesn't love more opportunities to bet, right?

So, let's dive right into the initial odds board for the 2024 NBA In-Season Tournament, courtesy of our best NBA betting sites.

NBA In-Season Tournament odds 2024

Odds updated as of Wednesday, Aug 16.

TeamBetMGMCaesarsDraftKingsbet365
Boston Celtics +700+650 ❄️+700+700
Denver Nuggets+950+1100 🔥+950+850 ❄️
Phoenix Suns+1100+1000 ❄️+1100+1000
Milwaukee Bucks+1000+1000+1000+1000
Cleveland Cavaliers+1400+1100 ❄️+1300+1400
Golden State Warriors +1200+1200+1200+1200
Philadelphia 76ers+1400+1800 🔥+1400+1400
Miami Heat+1400 ❄️+1500+1500+1600 🔥
Los Angeles Lakers+1400+1500 🔥+1300+1200 ❄️
Sacramento Kings+2000+1200 ❄️+1500 +2000 

NBA In-Season Tournament odds analysis

There are several more teams that can win the NBA In-Season Tournament than the NBA Finals, and the market is going to reflect that. It's much more realistic for multiple NBA teams to win a one-game knockout than a seven-game series. This is why you will see longer odds on the favorites to win the NBA Finals and shorter odds on some of the contenders in this market compared to their NBA Finals odds.

NBA In-Season Tournament odds movement

Originally, Caesars was the only sportsbook offering odds on this futures market. With more of our best sportsbooks joining, you would expect the market to fluctuate a bit, especially with the schedule being released, but we have seen little to no movement.

One team whose odds have lengthened is the Philadelphia 76ers, but this change has only been made by Caesars. I wouldn't be surprised if all of our best sports betting sites follow Caesars' lead soon, as the James Harden trade drama continues to intensify and might not be resolved before this tournament begins.

NBA In-Season Tournament odds 2024: Favorite

Celtics (+700 via BetMGM)

The Celtics are the favorites to win the NBA Finals, so it's no surprise that they're also favored to win the NBA Cup. However, there's a difference in pricing between the Celtics' odds for the NBA Cup and the NBA Finals. This is because the in-season tournament follows a single-game knockout format after the group play, rather than the traditional best-of-seven series. This setup introduces more unpredictability and variation into the mix.

Another interesting aspect to consider is how much importance a team like the Celtics would place on winning this tournament. The Celtics are trading at around +450 to win the NBA Finals, but their odds have now increased to +700 for the NBA Cup.

NBA In-Season Tournament odds 2024: Contender

Cavaliers (+1400 via bet365)

I'm throwing the Cavaliers into the contender spot because I believe there's a narrative at play suggesting that teams like the Cavaliers will place a higher value on winning the NBA Cup compared to some of the other favorites for the NBA Finals.

With stars like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers have a talented roster capable of winning the NBA Cup. The single-game knockout format would actually work in their favor, rather than facing the Celtics in a best-of-seven series. Honestly, in a single-game knockout game, anything can happen in the NBA.

The initial market reaction is likely to focus on teams like the Cavaliers, but it's important to consider that this perspective has already been priced into the odds. The Cavaliers are sitting at around +3000 to win the NBA Finals, while their odds for winning the NBA Cup are trading at +1400.

NBA In-Season Tournament odds 2024: Long shot

Thunder (+2200 via DraftKings)

At a +2200 price point, it may not seem like a long-shot bet, but in this market, there aren't any true long-shot options available. Even teams like the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons are only listed at +8000 to win the NBA Cup. This is because the single-game knockout bracket introduces unpredictability, much like the March Madness tournament.

During this offseason, there's been an appetite in the betting markets to support the Thunder as a long-shot bet to win the NBA Finals in the upcoming season. While achieving such a feat might be premature in the Thunder's timeline, winning the NBA Cup would be a significant accomplishment for this organization to build upon, given their young core. It's also a more realistic goal for this group to achieve.

The difference between winning three consecutive games in the knockout round versus winning multiple best-of-seven series against teams like the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns is substantial. The Thunder are more than just a team with potential; they possess a bona fide superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named First Team All-NBA.

NBA In-Season Tournament odds2024: Fade

Suns (+1100 via DraftKings)

The Suns find themselves near the top of the oddsboard, right behind the Celtics, trading at +1100 to win the NBA Cup. While the Suns boast an exceptional trio of superstar players in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, I'm uncertain if the NBA Cup aligns with their timeline. Building chemistry among players takes time, and the NBA Cup is scheduled for November and December, which is very early in the season.

I believe the in-season tournament will favor teams that already have established continuity, rather than those with a brand new head coach and numerous new faces on the roster. I have no concerns with the Suns being considered top contenders for the NBA Finals, but when it comes to the NBA Cup, I would be skeptical of their +1100 odds and prefer to fade their chances.

NBA betting odds pages

NBA Finals OddsNBA Defensive Player of the Year OddsNBA Clutch Player of the Year Odds
NBA MVP OddsNBA Sixth Man of the Year OddsNBA Cup Odds
NBA Rookie of the Year OddsNBA Most Improved Player OddsNBA Win Totals
NBA Finals MVP OddsNBA Coach of the Year OddsFIBA World Cup Odds
NBA Play-In Tournament Odds

NBA Cup FAQs

Who won the NBA In-Season Tournament last year?

This year represents a significant milestone as the NBA introduces the inaugural NBA Cup, marking the first-ever in-season tournament in the history of the league.

When will the NBA Cup be decided?

The group stage of the NBA Cup will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the month of November. Following the group stage, the tournament will move into the knockout round, featuring eight teams. The Final Four teams will then advance to Las Vegas, where they'll compete in the semi-finals on December 7th. Finally, the ultimate showdown, the Final, will occur on December 9th in Las Vegas.

Here are our best NBA betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages

Written By:
Jon Metler
Jon Metler is a Sports Betting Analyst at SportsbookReview.com. Having played, coached, and officiated basketball, he immediately turned his attention to the NBA and College Basketball when he entered the sports betting space. Sports betting has been a part of his life for over 13 years, and he specializes in futures markets and player props, particularly in the NBA. In pursuit of value, he keeps a close eye on movements in the betting markets. He believes strongly in analytics and staying ahead of the curve; let the numbers do the talking. A graduate of the University of Windsor with a degree in Sports Studies, Jon enjoys spending time with his dogs when he isn't watching basketball.