November 10, 2024

Sixers now NBA title favorites, according to at least one sportsbook

Sixers #Sixers

Sixers forward Tobias Harris and teammate guard James Harden defend Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. © Yong Kim / Staff Photographer/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Sixers forward Tobias Harris and teammate guard James Harden defend Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

How critical was the Sixers’ Game 5 win in Boston?

It was convincing enough that they now have the shortest odds to win the NBA Finals, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

FanDuel made the Sixers +280 favorites after Tuesday night’s game in Boston went final. The Sixers were just ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (+370) on the odds board.

Joel ‘The Process’ Embiid makes NBA his domain in Game 5 of Eastern Conference semis

Odds as of 10 p.m. Tuesday night. Subject to change.

NBA Finals odds at FanDuel (before Suns-Nuggets game result)

  • Sixers +280
  • Lakers +370
  • Nuggets +400
  • Celtics +450
  • Suns +600
  • Warriors +1500
  • Heat +1500
  • Knicks +8500
  • It has been quite a remarkable two-game turnaround for the Sixers, who as of Sunday morning had the longest odds of the four teams trailing 2-1 in their second-round series’ to just reach the third round.

    At the time, the Celtics were the NBA title favorite. Now, Boston heads back to Philadelphia needing to win Game 6 on the road to force a seventh game in Boston.

    What’s clear is that whichever team emerges from the Sixers-Celtics series is going to be heavy favorites to advance out of the Eastern Conference with eighth-seeded Miami likely on deck in the next round. The Heat have a 3-1 lead but have the same odds as the Warriors, who trail their series with the Lakers, 3-1, to hoist a championship trophy.

    What about the other sportsbooks?

    While FanDuel was one of the only major sportsbooks to have the Sixers as outright favorites, others — like DraftKings, Caesars and BetMGM — had the Sixers and Lakers with the same odds, anywhere from +300 to +350.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid celebrates in the fourth quarter with teammate guard James Harden. © Yong Kim / Staff Photographer/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Sixers center Joel Embiid celebrates in the fourth quarter with teammate guard James Harden.

    Joel Embiid, James Harden and the rest of the Sixers squad against LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers? Who wouldn’t sign up for that?

    Sixers-Celtics odds

    The Sixers, obviously, are now favored for the first time to get past the Celtics.

    FanDuel priced the Sixers at -196 to win the second-round series, and Boston was at +164 in the moments after Game 5.

    As for Game 6, FanDuel opened the line at Celtics -1.5 points, meaning the Sixers are a small home underdog.

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