The Boston Celtics are favored to follow up last season’s championship with an NBA Cup title in the latest betting lines from FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Celtics have the best odds of any NBA team at +400 to win the in-season tournament as group play begins on Tuesday night.
The New York Knicks are listed at +950, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers at +1000.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who won the inaugural NBA Cup behind an MVP performance from LeBron James, are listed at +1600.
The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets are tied for league-worst odds at +25000.
NBA players have a financial incentive to win the in-season tournament. Each member of the NBA Cup championship team will receive $500,000, while every player who makes it as far as the quarterfinals will receive a bonus of at least $50,000.
The full odds as of Nov. 12 are listed below.
FanDuel NBA Cup odds
- Boston Celtics: +400
- New York Knicks: +950
- Minnesota Timberwolves: +1000
- Cleveland Cavaliers: +1000
- Denver Nuggets: +1100
- Oklahoma City Thunder: +1200
- Los Angeles Lakers: +1600
- Dallas Mavericks: +1600
- Golden State Warriors: +1600
- Milwaukee Bucks: +1900
- Philadelphia 76ers: +1900
- Sacramento Kings: +2900
- Miami Heat: +2900
- Indiana Pacers: +3100
- Los Angeles Clippers: +3200
- Phoenix Suns: +3300
- Houston Rockets: +3500
- Orlando Magic: +4900
- Memphis Grizzlies: +5500
- Chicago Bulls: +11000
- San Antonio Spurs: +13000
- Charlotte Hornets: +13000
- Detroit Pistons: +17000
- Atlanta Hawks: +17000
- Toronto Raptors: +19000
- New Orleans Pelicans: +24000
- Washington Wizards: +25000
- Utah Jazz: +25000
- Portland Trail Blazers: +25000
- Brooklyn Nets: +25000
The six divisions for the group stage beginning on Tuesday are listed below. The team with the best record in the group will advance, while one other team that did not win a group will move on as a wild card from each conference.
NBA @NBA
The #EmiratesNBACup 2024 Group Draw results!
Starting November 12, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of groups into the knockout rounds, with the semifinals and championship held in Las Vegas, December 14 and 17! pic.twitter.com/K9BT9b1wT2
The Cavs will be the Celtics’ biggest opponent for first place in the East C group. The Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards face steep odds to overcome both the defending champions and the NBA’s lone undefeated team.
The New York Knicks meanwhile have a potentially easier path to the knockout round as they prepare to face Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets in East A. The Knicks may be off to a slow 4-5 start to the season, but none of those group-stage opponents have a winning record either.
Meanwhile, the depth of this season’s Western Conference means that any team looking to make it to the championship game from the other side of the bracket is bound to face a steeper climb to the top.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors find themselves in West C with the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, any of which could hope to finish as a first seed. Any team hoping for a wild-card berth would have to win the spot over another strong opponent like the Phoenix Suns or Oklahoma City Thunder, who will be facing one another in the West B.
NBA Cup group play takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays through Dec. 3. The quarterfinals are set for Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, followed by the Dec. 14 semifinals and the championship game on Dec. 17.
