NBA Picks & Predictions

The 2023/24 NBA season is underway and the drama is already unfolding spectacularly. We’ve got you covered with all of the information you need to make the most informed betting decisions for your NBA picks. Discover our betting guides and match analyses to ensure you’re making the right calls this season!

NBA 23/24 Season Picks and Betting Tips

The NBA season is already shaping up to be an exciting one. With a long regular season schedule, playoffs, Finals, and the new in-season tournament, the league offers loads of opportunities for sports bettors.

Whether you're interested in over/unders, moneyline, player prop bets, or futures bets, there's a lot of action to keep you busy throughout the season. As we head into the NBA playoffs, the stakes get even higher, making it an ideal time to place your bets and enjoy the excitement of the game.

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NBA Prediction: Who Will Win the 23/24 NBA Championship

Last season, the NBA Finals concluded with an unexpected Denver Nuggets victory. Led by the unstoppable duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets clinched their first NBA title. The victory came as a surprise to most given their mid-season form. They fought back and overcame the Miami Heat who, up until the Finals, had a remarkable playoff run, bouncing back from the play-in stage. With surprise victories over the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics, the Heat looked on track to claim their 4th championship. 

Repeating last season’s magic will be a tall task for the Nuggets, though not unfeasible. Given the synergy between Jokic’s leadership and the support of stars Murray, Michael Porter, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the team has the potential to extend their dominance provided they can avoid major injury setbacks.

Looking ahead, this season features a multitude of formidable opponents who look apt to make a strong playoff run. The Miami Heat, still strong, will aim to leverage their experience from last season’s impressive run. Meanwhile, teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and the Celtics cannot be discounted. The quest for the championship promises to be a thrilling clash of titans, keeping sports bettors on the edge of their seats.

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2024 Title Contenders: Who are the favorites?

Team	NBA Championship odds
Celtics	+120
Nuggets	+235
Clippers	+1500
OKC Thunder	+1600
Knicks	+1700
Bucks	+1700

Among the six big favorites for the final victory, it's quite logical that two franchises stand out from the competition: the Celtics and the reigning champions, the Nuggets. Following them are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder, the Clippers featuring Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden, and then the Bucks with Giannis, who are positioned just ahead of Luka Doncic's Mavericks. Excellent odds are being offered, so don't hesitate to take advantage of them now! (odds from sportsbook.fanduel.com).

23/24 NBA Prediction: Odds for the Title 

• Boston Celtics: +120
• Denver Nuggets: +235
• LA Clippers: +1500
• OKC Thunder: +1600
• New York Knicks: +1700
• Milwaukee Bucks: +1700
• Minnesota Timberwolves: +2000
• Dallas Mavericks: +2200
• Phoenix Suns:  +3300
• Philadelphia 76ers: +4000
• Cleveland Cavaliers: +5000
• LA Lakers: +5000
• Indiana Pacers: +15000
• New Orleans Pelicans: +20000
• Miami Heat: +50000
• Orlando Magic: +50000

odds from the fanduel website

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NBA 2024 playoffs prediction: who will make it to the finals?

The regular season is over and the play-in has also been played, so the most anticipated moment of the NBA season is underway: the playoffs! Below, find the schedule for the first round:

In the West:

• OKC vs New Orleans Pelicans
• Los Angeles Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns
• Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers

In the East:

• Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic
• Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers
• New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers

Great matchups await, whether in the East or the West, so don't wait any longer to take advantage of the very attractive odds offered by bookmakers like winamax.fr, unibet.fr, or zebet.fr. And, if you were waiting for the prediction of our experts, we estimate that the Celtics will make it to the finals in the East, while for the Western Conference, the representative should be the reigning champion, the Denver Nuggets!

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League MVP Prediction: Which players will win the various regular season awards?

In addition to competing for the title at the end of the season, players are also vying for a few awards that recognize their regular season achievements. Between the MVP (Most Valuable Player), ROY (Rookie of the Year), DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year), COY (Coach of the Year), and MIP (Most Improved Player), there are numerous awards to be claimed after a year in the NBA. Currently, making predictions seems complicated, but we can already compile a list of players to watch based on the categories mentioned earlie

- MVP:

• Nikola Jokic
• Joel Embiid
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Luka Doncic
• Jayson Tatum

- DPOY:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Draymond Green
• Marcus Smart
• Evan Mobley
• Jaren Jackson Jr.

What Prediction for the 23/24 NBA MVP Award?

- ROY (Rookie of the Year):

• Victor Wembanyama
• Brandon Miller
• Scott Henderson
• Amen Thompson
• Ausar Thompson

- COY (Coach of the Year):

• Michael Malone
• Erik Spoelstra
• Joe Mazzulla
• Mark Daigneault
• Adrian Griffin

Last season's MVP, Joel Embiid, will he achieve back-to-back or focus on reaching the 76ers' goal: making it to the NBA Finals? One thing is certain, the battle will be long and tight for a trophy that holds significant individual importance in the American landscape. Find our adjusted and detailed prediction in October, before or after the preseason.

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NBA Prediction - Odds for Favorites for Individual Awards

The odds are not yet available at bookmakers for this bet regarding individual awards. In the meantime, check fanduel.com to find all open NBA bets. 

Free NBA Prediction for the Top 6: Who Will Qualify for the Playoffs? I Phase Completed

Betting on the NBA isn't just about wagering on the future champion and the NBA title. As you know, in the NBA, before we can crown the future champion, there are several very important steps to go through. First, qualifying for the playoffs is mandatory at the end of the regular season, otherwise, vacation starts in April. To secure this coveted postseason ticket, NBA teams must be in the top 6 of both conferences, otherwise, they must go through the play-in, a mini-tournament, the workings of which we detail in the paragraph below.

And we can already announce that the battle will be very tough for these coveted spots... Indeed, this season will see a fierce fight to advance in the competition. Here, according to our analysis, is the list of the 12 teams likely to achieve this goal: the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat in the East, then the Denver Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns, the Sacramento Kings, the OKC Thunder, the Los Angeles Clippers, and finally, the Minnesota Timberwolves in the West, qualified for the playoffs!

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NBA Prediction - Odds for Favorites to Place in the Top 6 of Each Division

Odds are not available at bookmakers for this bet on the Top 6 of each division. In the meantime, visit draftkings.com to find all open bets on the NBA.

Prediction on the Top 10 in the NBA: Who Will Qualify for the Play-in? I Phase Completed

Let's turn to the real battle of the teams in the middle of the standings. Established by Adam Silver in 2021, the Play-In Tournament is a fantastic initiative that gives more teams a chance to make the playoffs. It's quite simple to understand: the teams that finish between 7th and 10th place participate in a tournament to determine the last two playoff qualifiers for each conference. Here's how it works: the 7th place team faces the 8th place team, with a playoff spot on the line for the winner, while the loser must then play against the winner of the 9th and 10th place match. Needless to say, the matchups are thrilling since no one wants to stop just short of such an important goal.

The battle to avoid finishing below 10th place will once again be huge, and making predictions is obviously not easy. Here is a list of 8 teams likely to reach the play-in: the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Atlanta Hawks in the East; and the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Pelicans in the West!

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NBA Prediction - Odds for Favorites to Place in the Top 10 of Each Division

Odds are not available at bookmakers for this bet concerning the Top 10 of each division. In the meantime, check out betmgm.com to find all open bets on the NBA.

Beginner Bettors - How do the NBA season and the 2023-2024 NBA playoffs work?

Located in the United States, the NBA is by far the largest and most spectacular basketball championship in the world. The league consists of 30 teams in a closed league format (no relegation), divided into two Conferences: East and West. There are 82 games played from late October to mid-April, followed by the playoffs involving the top 16 teams in the league (8 from each Conference). The goal is to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy after four rounds in the postseason (the best of seven games qualifies).

At the end of the regular season, several standings have an impact on the continuation of the competition:

• Teams finishing between 1st and 6th place qualify for the playoffs.
• Teams finishing between 7th and 10th place qualify for the play-in.
• Teams finishing beyond 10th place are on vacation.

Regarding the NBA playoffs, here is a summary of how they operate:

• First round of the playoffs (quarterfinals)
• Second round (semifinals)
• Conference Finals
• NBA Finals (between the winners of the conference finals)

This league, eagerly awaited by fans, features some of the most popular franchises such as the Lakers, Bucks, Celtics, Warriors, Nets, Bulls, and Clippers. This explains why American basketball and NBA betting are highly favored worldwide and in France among the best online bookmakers by French bettors.

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How to bet on the NBA ?

Thanks to the sheer amount of matches in a regular NBA season means that sports bettors can find value in just about every game.

Unlike soccer, which is growing in the US in its own right, the NBA always ensures a winner through regular or overtime. This keeps the betting experience interesting and the betting options easier to understand for newer bettors.

Sportsbooks commonly include phrases such as “will be extra time” rather than placing odds on a match ending in a tie for this reason. With games frequently passing the 200 total point mark, it’s no surprise that one of the most popular NBA bets is the number of baskets scored in a match.

Point spreads are equally as common, where sportsbooks will set a handicap to give an advantage or disadvantage to one of the teams based on their current form. For instance, if the Warriors have a handicap of -4.5 against the Magic, this impacts the odds and potential payouts for the match.

Besides these, sportsbooks will offer bets on the total points scored each quarter, which team will lead at various points in the match, top scorers, total number of free throws, three-pointers, rebounds, and lots more.

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NBA Betting Tips for Beginner Bettors

Due to the sheer length of the NBA season, which now features the immensely popular in-season tournament, there are loads of betting opportunities each year. Our NBA betting experts at SportyTrader go to extra lengths to make sure you’re armed with the best possible NBA predictions as well as a healthy supply of betting strategies to follow. Here are five key tips to consider when betting on the NBA:

• Checking the collective status of NBA teams
• Analyzing the latest NBA stats
• Taking stock of the current form of players
• Keeping track of injuries and suspensions
• Taking account of current stars

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Tip 1: Checking the collective status of NBA teams

Collective power is fundamental in the functioning of NBA teams since shoddy defensive work could harm everything achieved on offense. Taking this detail into account, it is necessary to verify how the performance of each franchise has been on both sides of the ball in a given season.

Paying attention to this imbalance can be key to choosing a winning bet. The composition of the squad, absent or injured athletes, the coach's strategy and shot accuracy are vital in this area. You need to study this point before all basketball picks you make.

Tip 2: Analyzing the latest NBA stats

Likewise, it is worth considering the individual level of the stars of each team. given that a good performance could be enough to achieve a victory.

For example, the relevance of Jayson Tatum in the Boston Celtics or Jimmy Butler in the Miami Heat, when it comes to scoring and managing the game, always weighs in the outcome of a confrontation, whether positively (high score) or negatively (minimum participation or errors).

Long absences due to injuries sometimes mean a problem. However, the supporting actors must also be taken into account, who help exploit the best qualities of their teammates: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in the Phoenix Suns or Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić in the Nuggets are clear evidence.

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Tip 3: Know the list of absent players in the NBA

Precisely, it is always essential to analyze the roster of available players, since physical problems, due to the tight schedule, are common in the NBA. As an example, facing the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic as a leader on the field will not be the same as without his presence.

With up to four games a week, the talented athletes are usually left on the sidelines for several days and that unbalances the balance, as happened with the Golden State Warriors in the previous campaign. By not having Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson for a long period, the Warriors struggled at the bottom of the table during this time. 

Tip 4: Take stock of the mental state of NBA players

Another value that weighs during an NBA match is the mental state of the players. Bad streaks are difficult for any team to deal with and if things are not resolved, the pressure begins to generate errors among athletes.

Likewise, difficulties off of the court or lack of personal care also cause a decrease in general performance. For example, Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) was out of action for a long time for appearing with a gun at a party; while Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets) was suspended due to messages with anti-Semitic comments and ended up changing sides (Mavericks).

Tip 5: Analyze the latest NBA statistics

Last, but not least, it is a requirement to study the previous stats of each NBA team before making a prediction. Under this context, the number of points scored in previous games points against, field goals, free throws, threes and rebounds, the effectiveness of the home team, the strength of the visitors, etc. must be analyzed.

For example, last season, the Warriors raised their level little by little and consolidated themselves at home, but they constantly failed on the road: just as they could beat the Dallas Mavericks, they could then lose to the Portland Trail Blazers. In addition, you should always check recent head-to-heads.

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What Not to Do for NBA Predictions

To be a successful sports bettor, especially with your NBA bets, it’s essential to develop and refine your betting strategy. A key part of refining your strategy involves evolving with trends. However, there are common pitfalls that bettors should avoid in order to maintain a successful trajectory. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when betting on the NBA:

• Forgetting to follow the notably dense NBA schedule, which often includes games on consecutive days
• Making predictions without being informed about the current form of the teams involved
• Failing to compare odds across multiple sportsbooks to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck
• Betting a bunch of money on a team without considering key factors such as form or absences
• Choosing rare or complex parlays solely for the lure of higher odds
• Overlooking the home-court advantage or away strengths of any given team
• Hastily placing bets on teams you’re not familiar enough with, in an attempt to break a losing streak

A losing streak in betting happens to everyone, by avoiding the mistakes listed above, you’ll be well on your way out of a rut. Be sure to continue to refine your betting strategy and not just stick to betting on your favorite teams. Get out there, inform yourself and start placing better bets! 

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Stats You Should Consider for NBA Predictions

Every NBA expert would agree: succeeding in sports betting on the NBA also requires a thorough knowledge of the main statistics from the world's premier basketball league. Here are some new figures to remember for your NBA predictions, recorded during the latest edition of the competition:

• Home wins: 58%
• Away wins: 42%
• Average points: 229 points per game
• 3-point shooting success over the season: 36% per franchise (38.7% for the best, 32.7% for the least efficient)
• Free throw success over the season: 78.2% per franchise (83.5% for the best, 73.3% for the least efficient)
• Number of rebounds per game: 43.4 average rebounds per franchise
• Number of offensive rebounds per game: 10.4 average offensive rebounds per team
• Number of defensive rebounds per game: 33 average defensive rebounds per team

For sports betting on NBA games, you'll find that certain types of bets are more advantageous to consider in your predictions, such as the home team winning or the "Under/Over". Indeed, the American basketball championship is one of the most spectacular in the world, and bets like "Over 224.5" are often validated. Of course, this isn't the case for all teams, and it will be necessary to evaluate on a case-by-case basis. With interesting odds, this could allow you to earn some euros for your account. Even though nothing is guaranteed in advance, of course!

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Conclusion: How to get Your NBA Predictions Right Today?

Success in sports betting comes down to a careful analysis of the multitude of aspects that can influence a match: absent players, injuries, bad form, home/away deficits, head-to-head matchups, shot percentages, etc. Similarly, it is crucial to know how the season is progressing, keeping tabs on current trends. 

Obviously, this process requires precious time so it is always advisable to carefully select the matches you’re going to bet on in advance. If you have difficulties analyzing each matchup, we’ve got you covered with free predictions for every matchup throughout the season. Our predictions, made by our vetted NBA experts, will help you multiply your bankroll from the first whistle-blow. 

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Our current NBA predictions

NBA: Best Odds

Odds are not yet available for this competition.