The NBA Finals marks the end of the NBA season, as the champions of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference meet in a best-of-seven series to crown the NBA champion. The NBA Finals typically starts in late May or early June. This year’s NBA Finals matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers will start on Thursday, June 5.
Here, you will find all of the information that you need to be able to bet on the NBA Finals. That includes online betting guides, bet types, NBA Finals odds information, historical NBA Finals information, and other informative content.
NBA Finals Online Betting
To help determine the best online betting sites for NBA Finals betting, we have tried and reviewed dozens of top online sportsbooks.
Our reviews consider a number of factors, some of which apply to all types of betting and others that apply specifically to NBA Finals betting, NBA betting, or basketball betting.
Here is a list of some of the factors we took into consideration when evaluating the best places for NBA Finals betting.
Mobile Compatibility
Mobile betting has become an essential part of the sports betting experience, as the average sports bettor enjoys being able to place and track their bets wherever they are.
When it comes to the NBA Finals, you are likely to be in front of the TV, spending time with family or friends, or doing something else that does not involve being in front of a computer.
Offering mobile betting of some sort is a must now, but merely having mobile betting functionality isn’t enough to make the grade. Sites that clearly value the importance of mobile betting get extra credit in our sportsbook reviews.
Promotions and Bonuses
When making a decision on which online sportsbook to trust with your funds, sportsbook bonuses and promotions are a factor that many sports bettors consider. Sportsbooks typically provide special promos for marquee events like the NBA Finals, Super Bowl, and March Madness, so it is wise to evaluate your options before deciding where to make a deposit.
Offers at our recommended sports betting sites can include the following bonuses and promotions, among others:
- Deposit bonuses
- Risk-free bets
- Boosted odds
- Special odds markets
Live Betting
Along with mobile betting functionality, a quality live betting platform is an important factor for many sports bettors. Live betting provides an extra angle to following the game that you are watching. It also offers the opportunity for sports bettors to hedge or add to bets that they may have placed before the game, based on the outcome to that point. Basketball is one of the main sports to place live bets on, and NBA Finals live betting will be very popular.
With time being of the essence when it comes to live betting, online betting sites and sports betting apps with a live betting platform that is clean, quick, and easy to understand will have an edge.
How to Bet On the NBA Finals
If you partake in NBA betting or basketball betting of any kind throughout the year, you will be familiar with the types of NBA Finals bets there and how to navigate NBA Finals betting. But if you are dabbling in NBA Finals betting for the first time or bet on basketball or other sports infrequently, there might be a lot to wade through.
Here, we list the primary types of NBA Finals bets that are available and provide the basic information that you need to confidently tackle NBA Finals online betting.
NBA Finals Betting Odds and Bet Types
Online sportsbooks offer a variety of NBA Finals bets. Here, we will focus on the main types of NBA Finals bets most average bettors make.
Below, we break down each of these wager types, describe how to make those bets, and look at some of the other ways to partake in NBA Finals betting.
Game-to-Game Betting
Most betting on NBA championship odds will be done on the spread, moneyline, or total of each NBA Finals game.
Below are examples of each of those types of bets:
Spread Betting
Spread bets are bets placed on one team to achieve a particular outcome.
For example, if the Thunder are favored to beat the Pacers by nine points at home at -110 odds at BetOnline, the spread lines would read:
- Indiana Pacers +9 (-110)
- Oklahoma City Thunder -9 (-110)
Backing the Thunder’s spread would mean that Oklahoma City would need to win by five or more points in order for the bet to win. Backing the Pacers’ spread would mean that Indiana would need to lose by no more than three points for the bet to win.
If the Thunder win by exactly four points, there would be no winner or loser. All bets on both sides of the line would be considered a “push” or a no result. In that scenario, the original stake of all bets would be refunded.
A winning $100 spread bet on either outcome at -110 odds would return $90.91 plus the original $100 stake.
Moneyline Betting
Moneyline bets are bets placed on one team to win a specific game, half, or quarter.
For example, if the Thunder are favored to win at home and the Pacers are considered the underdog, the line could look like this:
- Indiana Pacers +360
- Oklahoma City Thunder -450
In this situation, if the Thunder win the game, all moneyline bets made on Oklahoma City would win, while all bets on the Pacers would lose.
A winning $100 bet on the Pacers would return $360 plus the original $100 stake, while a winning $100 bet on the Thunder would return $22.22 plus the original $100 stake.
Over/Under Betting
Totals bets, also known as over/under bets, are placed on how many points will or will not be scored in a specific time period, whether a quarter, a half, or the full game.
For example, if oddsmakers set the total for the Pacers vs Thunder NBA Finals game at 231 points, the line may look like this:
- OVER 231 (-115)
- UNDER 231 (-105)
If the final score of the game is 118-114, OVER 231 would be a winning bet.
If the final score of the game is 117-113, UNDER 231 would be a winning bet.
However, if the final score of the game is 117-114, all total bets would be graded as “no result”/a push, and betting stakes would be refunded.
A winning $100 bet on OVER 231 at -115 odds would return $86.96 plus the original $100 stake. A winning $100 bet on UNDER 231 at -105 odds would return $95.24 in addition to the original $100.
Along with offering these types of bets on the outcome of the full game, most reputable online betting sites offer these types of bets on some or all quarters and each half.
Being able to make second-half bets can be important when it comes to NBA Finals betting and basketball betting in general. If a full-game bet appears to be in a bad position, bettors may attempt to mitigate losses or even turn a profit with a second-half bet. This is called hedging your bets.
Futures Betting
NBA Finals futures betting can be done well in advance of the NBA Finals, or it can be done during the series.
During the season, NBA Finals odds are primarily available in the form of odds to win the NBA championship, odds to be Eastern Conference champion, and odds to be Western Conference champion.
Here’s an example of what NBA championship odds might look like at a sportsbook like BetOnline:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +220 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +350 |
| New York Knicks | +700 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +700 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +750 |
If a $100 stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves to win the NBA championship at +700 odds comes out a winner, there will be a return of $700 in addition to the original $100 stake.
During the NBA Finals, futures bets can be made on the outcome of the series and what the final result of the series will be in regard to the number of games won on each side.
NBA Finals futures betting also includes betting on NBA Finals Most Valuable Player odds. Most sportsbooks that have NBA Finals odds also have Finals MVP futures.
Prop Betting
Prop betting provides the chance to have more of a stake in the action than just the spread, moneyline, or total.
Props can range from player props, team props, series props, and more. And while there is some element of seriousness to many prop bets, frivolous prop betting is often a part of betting on major sporting events.
Live Betting
As mentioned above, live betting is an exciting way to do some NBA Finals betting while the action is taking place.
Online sportsbooks offer many kinds of live betting options. That includes the usual spread, moneyline, and total bets, bets on what will occur during a specific moment or time period, team and player props, and much more.
NBA Finals Picks and Previews
With the NBA Finals being a major event on the sports calendar, there are many sites and services that will offer up NBA Finals betting picks.
However, it is necessary to distinguish between which services are out to legitimately help sports bettors have success and those that are not.
There are many premium sports picks services out there, but if you are going to use a paid service, do your research. Beware of those that attempt to lure you with phrases and words like “guaranteed winners” or “locks.”
At Betting News, we have NBA betting matchup pages that provide in-depth betting previews, detailed betting stats, odds from several reputable online sportsbooks, aggregated picks from top sports betting industry sources, and more for every NBA betting matchup daily.
In addition, our writers will be providing a great deal of content to further help your NBA championship betting experience be as stress-free as possible.
NBA Finals Historical Information
When looking at NBA Finals betting odds and deciding what NBA Finals bets to make, historical information can sometimes show noteworthy trends. Evaluate these trends with caution, of course. Different factors can wildly vary from one season or one era to the next.
Still, it is interesting to see what notable NBA championship betting trends pop up. How often do the favorites win? What are some of the biggest NBA Finals upsets? How have the NBA Finals played out in recent seasons? Do players from the losing team have a chance to win NBA Finals MVP?
NBA Championship Winner History
Let’s look at the list of all-time NBA Finals results.
| Year | Champion | Result | Opponent |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | 4-1 | Miami Heat |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-2 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Miami Heat |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | 4-2 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | 4-0 (sweep) | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | 4-1 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-3 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | 4-1 | Miami Heat |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | 4-3 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2012 | Miami Heat | 4-1 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | 4-2 | Miami Heat |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | Boston Celtics |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | Orlando Magic |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | 4-0 (sweep) | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2006 | Miami Heat | 4-2 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2005 | San Antonio Spurs | 4-3 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2004 | Detroit Pistons | 4-1 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2003 | San Antonio Spurs | 4-2 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-0 (sweep) | New Jersey Nets |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | 4-1 | New York Knicks |
| 1998 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Utah Jazz |
| 1997 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Utah Jazz |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | 4-0 (sweep) | Orlando Magic |
| 1994 | Houston Rockets | 4-3 | New York Knicks |
| 1993 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1992 | Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls | 4-1 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1990 | Detroit Pistons | 4-1 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | 4-0 (sweep) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Houston Rockets |
| 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-0 (sweep) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Houston Rockets |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | 4-1 | Washington Bullets |
| 1978 | Washington Bullets | 4-3 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1976 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | 4-0 (sweep) | Washington Bullets |
| 1974 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1973 | New York Knicks | 4-1 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 | New York Knicks |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-0 (sweep) | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1970 | New York Knicks | 4-3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1969 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1968 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1967 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 | San Francisco Warriors |
| 1966 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1965 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1964 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | San Francisco Warriors |
| 1963 | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1962 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1961 | Boston Celtics | 4-1 | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1960 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1959 | Boston Celtics | 4-0 (sweep) | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | 4-2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1957 | Boston Celtics | 4-3 | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1956 | Philadelphia Warriors | 4-1 | Fort Wayne Pistons |
| 1955 | Syracuse Nationals | 4-3 | Fort Wayne Pistons |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-3 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-1 | New York Knicks |
| 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-3 | New York Knicks |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals | 4-3 | New York Knicks |
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-2 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-2 | Washington Capitols |
| 1948 | Baltimore Bullets | 4-2 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1947 | Philadelphia Warriors | 4-1 | Chicago Stags |
Historical NBA Finals Odds
Now, let’s take a look at the list of NBA Finals results based on NBA Finals betting odds each year since 1973. (Credit: sportsoddshistory.com)
| Season | Team | Preseason | All-Star Break | Playoffs | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Boston Celtics | +400 | +260 | +160 | -225 |
| 2022-23 | Denver Nuggets | +1800 | +700 | +1000 | -430 |
| 2021-22 | Golden State Warriors | +900 | +425 | +1000 | -145 |
| 2020-21 | Milwaukee Bucks | +550 | +750 | +850 | +160 |
| 2019-2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | +450 | +265 | +280 | -350 |
| 2018-2019 | Toronto Raptors | +1850 | +1100 | +975 | +230 |
| 2017-2018 | Golden State Warriors | -187 | -168 | +137 | -1075 |
| 2016-2017 | Golden State Warriors | -128 | -160 | -173 | -300 |
| 2015-2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | +280 | +340 | +475 | +180 |
| 2014-2015 | Golden State Warriors | +2800 | +425 | +175 | -220 |
| 2013-2014 | San Antonio Spurs | +1200 | +900 | +330 | -155 |
| 2012-2013 | Miami Heat | +225 | +185 | -125 | -220 |
| 2011-2012 | Miami Heat | +225 | +150 | +200 | +155 |
| 2010-2011 | Dallas Mavericks | +2000 | +1600 | +1800 | +155 |
| 2009-2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | +225 | +225 | +225 | -190 |
| 2008-2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | +350 | NA | +160 | -280 |
| 2007-2008 | Boston Celtics | +1000 | NA | +180 | +160 |
| 2006-2007 | San Antonio Spurs | +450 | NA | +400 | -450 |
| 2005-2006 | Miami Heat | +350 | NA | +500 | +130 |
| 2004-2005 | San Antonio Spurs | +400 | NA | +250 | -250 |
| 2003-2004 | Detroit Pistons | +1500 | NA | +700 | +500 |
| 2002-2003 | San Antonio Spurs | +1100 | NA | +250 | -330 |
| 2001-2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | +200 | NA | +140 | -750 |
| 2000-2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | +180 | NA | +300 | -2000 |
| 1999-2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | +400 | NA | -125 | -800 |
| 1998-1999 | San Antonio Spurs | +450 | NA | +350 | -900 |
| 1997-1998 | Chicago Bulls | +140 | NA | +140 | -115 |
| 1996-1997 | Chicago Bulls | +100 | NA | -200 | -600 |
| 1995-1996 | Chicago Bulls | +350 | NA | -400 | -950 |
| 1994-1995 | Houston Rockets | +450 | NA | +1800 | +130 |
| 1993-1994 | Houston Rockets | +1200 | NA | +600 | -220 |
| 1992-1993 | Chicago Bulls | +120 | NA | +300 | -240 |
| 1991-1992 | Chicago Bulls | +250 | NA | -200 | -250 |
| 1990-1991 | Chicago Bulls | +700 | NA | +250 | -200 |
| 1989-1990 | Detroit Pistons | +300 | NA | +200 | -400 |
| 1988-1989 | Detroit Pistons | +400 | NA | +160 | +100 |
| 1987-1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | +120 | NA | -167 | -260 |
| 1986-1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | +400 | NA | -250 | -600 |
| 1985-1986 | Boston Celtics | +250 | NA | -167 | -700 |
| 1984-1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | +200 | NA | +120 | -200 |
| 1983-1984 | Boston Celtics | NA | NA | +200 | -120 |
| 1982-1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | NA | NA | +140 | NA |
| 1981-1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | NA | NA | +250 | -160 |
| 1980-1981 | Boston Celtics | +300 | NA | +300 | -260 |
| 1979-1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | NA | NA | +200 | -190 |
| 1978-1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | NA | NA | +300 | +130 |
| 1977-1978 | Washington Bullets | NA | NA | +800 | +120 |
| 1976-1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | NA | NA | +500 | +140 |
| 1975-1976 | Boston Celtics | NA | NA | +200 | -200 |
| 1973-1974 | Milwaukee Bucks | NA | NA | +200 | NA |
| 1972-1973 | New York Knicks | NA | NA | +800 | +140 |
NBA Finals MVP History
There has been only one NBA Finals MVP from a losing team. That occurred in 1969, the first year of the award. That year, NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West received NBA Finals MVP honors, despite the Boston Celtics edging out West and the Los Angeles Lakers four games to three.
Historically, NBA Finals MVPs have been pretty evenly distributed among guards, forwards, and centers. More recently, forwards have dominated, though we are now in an era in which position specifics have less importance due to the versatility of many players.
NBA Finals General Information
The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series that determines the champion of the NBA season, and it pits the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion.
The winner of the NBA Finals receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, named after former NBA commissioner Larry O’Brien, the league’s commissioner from 1975 to 1984.
To reach the NBA Finals, each participant must win three NBA playoff series in their respective conference: the conference quarterfinals, the conference semifinals, and the conference finals.
Since the 2021 NBA playoffs, there has been a new playoff format. The teams who finish seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth in each conference in the regular-season NBA standings take part in a play-in tournament to determine who receives the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in their respective conferences.
Each game of the NBA Finals will take place at the home arena of one of the participants. The team that has the superior regular-season record receives homecourt advantage for the NBA Finals, which can be decisive in a seven-game series. The team with homecourt advantage hosts the first two games, while the other team hosts Game 3 and Game 4.
The remaining three games, if necessary, will alternate between the arenas. The team with home-court advantage will be at home for the fifth and seventh games, while the other team will be the home team for the sixth game.
Where Can You Watch the NBA Finals?
In the United States, ABC broadcasts every game of the NBA Finals. NBA Finals games typically take place at night, regardless of the day of the week.