NBA gamblers, rejoice! Basketball is back. Well, almost. 22 NBA teams are quarantining in a Disney World bubble and preparing to tip-off on July 30. The remaining teams will play eight regular-season games to close out the 2020 basketball season before continuing with a slightly altered NBA playoff format. The changes give hopes to a few teams who were on the outside looking in before the Adam Silver and the NBA suspended the season.

Recent NBA Betting Article: Updated NBA Futures Odds, Series Prices & Best Bets

The NBA Playoffs is when the basketball betting action heats up after the end of each regular season delivery some of the most exciting lines for betting on NBA basketball. 16 teams enter into the playoff bracket with hopes of reaching NBA Finals. Ultimately, only one team will walk away with the NBA championship and hoist the Larry O’Brien.

Get the latest betting odds & lines at BetOnline Sportsbook for betting on your favorite sport and snag a huge sign-up bonus. Betting the point spread, straight up winner, and over/under point total are the three popular NBA bets. Sportsbooks also first half lines, live betting, and other betting angles. Who's the favorite to win the NBA Championship? For odds on where teams will finish in the NBA Playoffs, check out our NBA Futures page.

Basketball will officially resume more than two months after the league pulled NBA teams from the court March 17 due to positive COVID-19 tests among players. The novel virus subsequently led to the cancellation of March Madness and put the NHL, MLB, and PGA Tour all in limbo.

It has been a long hiatus for sports bettors, leaving little for us to bet on, but action does seem to be returning. NHL announced a similar approach to extend the Stanley Cup Playoffs, golf betting has resumed thanks to the PGA Tour’s return in June, and the Nationals and Yankees headline MLB Opening Day on Thursday, July 23.

Here are the key details to know about the NBA’s format and schedule:

Who: 16 current playoff teams, plus nine teams within six games of the eighth seeds of their conference
When: July 30 – Oct. 12
Where: Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Format: Eight-game regular season extension, play-in tournament for the eight and nine seeds (tentative), playoffs

The NBA returns one week after MLB Opening Day, with night games between the Utah Jazz and New Orleans followed by the Clippers vs the Lakers. Read our NBA ‘Opening Night’ preview here and find out who we’re picking at online sports betting sites

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2020 NBA Futures Odds

All odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, accurate as of July 21, 2020.

• Milwaukee Bucks +240
• Los Angeles Lakers +260
• Los Angeles Clippers +320
• Houston Rockets +1700
• Boston Celtics +1800
• Toronto Raptors +2000
• Philadelphia 76ers +2500
• Denver Nuggets +2700
• Philadelphia 76ers +2700
• Miami Heat +3000
• Utah Jazz +3300
• Dallas Mavericks +3800
• Indiana Pacers +10000
• Oklahoma City Thunder +10000
• Brooklyn Nets +16000
• New Orleans Pelicans +16000
• Memphis Grizzlies +21000
• Portland Trail Blazers +21000
• San Antonio Spurs +21000
• Orlando Magic +25000
• Phoenix Suns +25000
• Sacramento Kings +25000
• Washington Wizards +25000

NBA Playoffs Storylines

Current top-seeds Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers have solid 5.5 and 6.5-game cushions, respectively. With only eight regular-season games remaining, the Bucks and Lakers should maintain the position when they head into the playoffs.

However, with every game taking place in Orlando and without fans, home-court advantage will be obsolete. The biggest seeding battles to watch are toward the bottom of the current playoff standings.

Watch Out for Zion and the Pelicans?

The New Orleans Pelicans have crept into the playoff race, and suddenly, with the possibility of a play-in game between the eighth and ninth seeds, the Pelicans might have a chance to show off rookie phenom Zion Williamson on the biggest stage.

Williamson made his NBA debut on January 22, and since then the former Duke Blue Devil has exceeded the expectations that he carried into the league as the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Pelicans are 10-9 with Williamson on the court. His impact is accentuated when you consider New Orleans started the season with a 6-22 record. Williamson’s playing time was restricted early on, but the Pelicans are 8-3 against the spread after giving him the green light.

Williamson has also dominated his points props, averaging 23.6 per game while adding nearly 7 rebounds per contest.

With the extra rest, Zion’s presence and workload are likely to increase even more. For teams like the Lakers and Clippers, the playoffs don’t officially start until after the eight regular-season games in Orlando, but teams like the Pelicans who are currently on the outside looking in will be playoff mode from the start.
I for one am rooting for a Pelicans vs. Lakers, Zion vs. LeBron first-round matchup.

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NBA Futures Betting Advice

Historically, the NBA playoffs have not been kind to underdogs. Only three No. 8 seeds won in the first round as favorites consistently dominate in their best-of-seven series. This year, however, there’s some added uncertainty. So how should you attack U.S. sportsbooks when looking at NBA futures odds?

In a blog post, economist Tyler Cowen asks tackles a related question: which NBA teams will gain in relative prospects from the shutdown?

His answer is the teams with the most valuable stars. For example, the top stars like LeBron James typically have their own private gyms and work-out rooms in their homes. On the other hand, there’s the report that only two Miami Heat players had basketball hoops available to practice on during quarantine.

Additionally, Cowen points out that the most valuable stars in the NBA are more accustomed to unusual circumstances (think All-star games and Olympics), and less reliant on their home-court crowd for support than role players.

All things considered, Cowen might be right that the Lakers have gained the most in relative terms, making it difficult to bet against them. But also watch out for teams like the Rockets, at least in the first round or two of the playoffs.

In the past, Harden has seemed to gas out in the playoffs, but that shouldn’t be the case this time. Also, Houston’s scoring is dominated by James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who make up 52.5% percent of the Rockets’ 118 ppg. Westbrook was diagnosed with coronavirus two weeks ago, which delayed his arrival to Orland. However, the former MVP rejoined the Rockets on Monday. Houston should be ready to go by the time the regular season is officially over and the NBA playoffs begin.

Be sure to check back as we update this page with relevant NBA playoffs wagering information in upcoming weeks. For more general betting tips, check out our NBA guide.

The NBA Playoffs is when the basketball betting action heats up after the end of each regular season delivery some of the most exciting lines for betting on NBA basketball. 16 teams enter into the playoff bracket with hopes of reaching NBA Finals. Ultimately, only one team will walk away with the NBA championship and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

The playoffs and finals are the most popular times for basketball betting, where fans can bet on point spreads, the money line, over/under, prop bets, futures, and play for money via live and mobile betting. Here you’ll find our list of the best online sportsbooks to use during the NBA postseason and info on the legality of betting on the playoffs along with a breakdown of the matchups and schedule for the 2021 NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.

Is Betting On The NBA Playoffs Legal In The US?

Yes, betting on the NBA playoffs is legal and USA gamblers have two options. They can wager with a domestic sportsbook located regionally, or they can visit an online sportsbook operating legally outside of the United States. There is no law at the state or federal level that prohibits fans from betting on the NBA playoffs at legitimate online sportsbooks in 48 out of 50 states.

Connecticut and Washington have passed laws that do not allow those within their borders to gamble online, even though reputable sportsbooks do accept them as customers. We've yet to hear of any arrests occurring in those two states for online betting as these restrictions are not enforced with the exception of those attempting to run illegal gambling operations within state borders.

Top Rated Sportsbook To Bet On The 2021 NBA FInals/Playoffs

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Bovada sportsbook is a household name in the online sports betting industry. They are actually part of the Bodog group, one of the oldest and most reputable names in the industry. So if you consider trust and reputation to be a major factor in where you decide to play, Bovada is an excellent choice. They actually cater exclusively to USA players and offer everything you could imagine in the way of basketball betting lines and props.

New depositing players can claim their generous 50% bonus up to $250 on their first deposit. They accept all major credit cards and just recently starting accepting Bitcoin for both deposits and withdrawals. So getting your money both on and off the site is a piece of cake now.

• Every Basketball betting option available at Bovada

• Only Players from the US, Mexico and Brazil accepted

• Regular season ends: May 16, 2021
• Play-In Tournament: May 17-21, 2021
• First Round of Playoffs: May 22, 2021
• Conference Semifinals: June 7, 2021
• Conference Finals: June 22, 2021
• NBA Finals: July 8-22, 2021

When betting on the NBA Playoffs, Christmas games, or regular season games you're going to find quite a few bets at most sportsbooks. This is because many experienced handicappers go far beyond simply betting on the outcome of a game or series and instead bet per half, per quarter, make prop bets, bet on futures, etc. In this regard, there is certainly no shortage of betting types or structures you can find with most sportsbooks. Here are a few of the betting types you will likely see:

• NBA Game Lines: Where you bet on single-game point spreads, money line, over/under totals, etc.
• NBA 1st/2nd/3rd/4th Period Lines: Betting lines for any individual period of a single game
• 1st/2nd Half Lines: Betting lines for each half of a single game
• NBA Props: Any betting line that doesn’t directly impact the game’s outcome
• NBA Series Price: Odds to win a single best-of-seven series
• Series Betting: Betting on the series winner, correct series outcome, and total games played over/under
• Futures: Odds made ahead of time of a game or series that indicates how likely a bet will payout, i.e. odds to win the NBA championship

TOP 5 TEAMS WITH THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN THE 2021 NBA FINALS

Below you’ll find top 5 teams with the best odds to win the finals and take home this year’s NBA championship. The best return on investment you can make is betting on a team in the East and hedging your bet when the Warriors make it to the finals (again).

Since the Celtics had a down year and you shouldn’t trust the 76ers, hedging with either the Bucks or the Raptors (or both) will likely give you a guaranteed ROI when the postseason is over.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (+200)

• 2018-2019 Result: Did not make playoffs
• Odds Analysis: Despite having King James on the Lakers roster, the Lakers did not make the playoffs last year. Last season proved that Lebron can't win a championship without a good team around him. During the offseason, the Lakers signed Anthony Davis, instantly making the Lakers a playoff-bound team.

2. Los Angeles Clippers (+300)

• 2018-2019 Result: Made playoffs, lost to Golden State
• Odds Analysis: The Clippers made national headlines after they signed Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Once the two were inked, the Clippers odds shot up and they are now one of the favorites to win the 2021 Finals going into the season.

3. Boston Celtics (+1200)

• 2018-2019 Result: Lost to Bucks in Conference Simi-finals
• Odds Analysis: The Celtics have been down for the past few years but they are never out. Odds favor the Celtics making it deep into the playoff bracket, but not many people are betting on them to win it all.

4. Houston Rockets (+1400)

• 2018-2019 Result: lost in the divisional finals
• Odds Analysis: The team that was built to beat Golden State got knocked out of the playoffs by Golden State last year. The Rockets are still led by James Harden but this offseason they added 8x Allstar Russell Westbrook to help the team get past their nemesis.

5. Toronto Raptors (+1600)

Nba Sports Betting Odds

• 2018-2019 Result: NBA Champions
• Odds Analysis: Last year the Raptors were considered one of those teams that were good but not good enough, however, Kawhi Leonard was the driving force behind the Raptor's success. This year without their star they are unlikely to have the same success they had last year.