NBA Championship odds after All-Star Game (Boston still favored despite Kevin Durant’s Suns debut)

February 16, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, forward Kevin Durant and general manager James Jones pose for a photo at the Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not really the mid-season breakpoint for the NBA anymore as we inch closer to three quarters of the 2022-23 campaign, but the All-Star break is an opportunity to take stock of the big league picture.

The biggest rise in the NBA Futures market of late has been the Phoenix Suns, who are awaiting Kevin Durant’s Valley debut after trading for him at the trade deadline. Durant is still recovering from an MCL sprain but is expected to return to the lineup shortly after the break. Bettors are set for this team to be a juggernaut, despite only having 22 games to prepare for the playoffs, as the team is the No. 2 pick to win the NBA Finals and has the best odds of any group of players. the Western Conference at +425.

However, Phoenix is still behind the Boston Celtics, who have been favorites most of the season and have the best record in the NBA. Also in the mix are the Milwaukee Bucks, who have won 18 of 23 games, the best mark since the start of the new year at +600.

While the Suns have passed the Denver Nuggets for first place in the odds, the team is still trailing them in the standings by 9.5 games as the home court will likely go through Denver in the West. That’s huge for the Nuggets, who are five games ahead of second-place Memphis Grizzlies as the team is 27-4 at Ball Arena this year. The Nuggets are +750 away from winning the title with likely MVP Nikola Jokic.

There are several teams firmly in the finals mix and the odds indicate how open it is with five other teams inside at 20-1 to win it all this season.

Here are the updated NBA Finals odds ahead of the final race of the season.