NBA Finals 2022: Which Team Is The Championship Favorite? Warriors, Celtics Have Best Odds

With four teams officially in the second round of the playoffs and four more set to join them shortly, there is no overwhelming betting favorite for the 2022 NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors have the best odds to win this year’s championship, though the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns are not far behind.

Golden State is the championship favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook with +320 odds. At +370, the Celtics are second overall and first in the Eastern Conference. The Suns are the third favorites with +390 odds to win the NBA Finals.

The Warriors clinched a spot in the second round of the playoffs by defeating the Denver Nuggets 102-98 in Game 5 of their first-round series Wednesday night. Back in the starting lineup for the first time since suffering a foot sprain in mid-March, Stephen Curry has 30 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Golden State’s 121.9 offensive rating is the best in the 2022 playoffs. The trio of Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole has been reminiscent of the Warriors’ previous championship teams, and Draymond Green might still be the NBA’s best defensive player.

The Warriors have replaced the Suns as the championship favorites. Phoenix had the NBA’s best regular-season record and finished 11 games ahead of the Warriors. The Suns have struggled in their first-round series, leading the New Orleans Pelicans 3-2 before Thursday’s Game 6.

Devin Booker has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, making the Suns’ path through the West more difficult, but he could return for Game 6. The Warriors, on the other hand, are finally completely healthy. Curry, Thompson and Green all missed big chunks of the regular season.

The Celtics are the only team that swept their first-round series, and they did so against NBA championship favorites for much of the regular season. Boston’s No. 1 ranked defense stifled Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in four straight victories. The Celtics are 30-6 in their last 36 games.

The Miami Heat have +600 championship odds after beating the Atlanta Hawks in five games. The Milwaukee Bucks eliminated the Chicago Bulls in five games and have +700 odds to repeat as champions.

Milwaukee’s chances to win the NBA Finals took a hit Thursday, despite having just clinched a spot in the second round. No. 2 scorer Khris Middleton is expected to miss the entire series with Boston because of a sprained MCL.

The Memphis Grizzlies have +1000 championship odds with a 3-2 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota and New Orleans are the biggest long shots at +16000 apiece as both are on the brink of elimination.

The Dallas Mavericks (+1600) and Philadelphia (+1600) are both one step away from reaching the second round. The Utah Jazz (+6000) and Toronto Raptors (+12000) can force a deciding Game 7 with wins at home Thursday night.