If you’re wondering how do NBA playoffs work, you’re in the right place! Understanding the NBA Playoffs is essential for making smart bets during the postseason, where every game is a step closer to crowning the league’s champion. This also means you are one step close on learning what you need to know about NBA Playoff betting, that’s betting matches or futures to win.
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2024–25 NBA season: 79th season of the National Basketball Association: professional basketball league in North America
Playoffs: April 19 – May/June 2025
Table of Contents: NBA Playoffs Games
Learn How Betting NBA Playoffs Work
What Can You Bet on Right Now for the NBA Playoffs?
What Teams Have the Best Chances of Reaching the Playoffs?
Writer’s Picks to Win the NBA Championship
Writer’s Teaching Their Knowledge to Get You to Bet Better
Learn How Betting NBA Playoffs Work
As the season keeps rolling along, we get closer to the start of the postseason in the National Basketball Association.
It has been a fun season thus far, and the postseason expects to be great as well.
The postseason is fun to bet on, but bettors need to understand how it works.
What Are NBA Playoffs and How Do They Work?
The NBA Playoffs determine the league’s champion.
Sixteen teams qualify, eight from each conference.
The top six teams in each conference secure their spot based on regular season records.
The final two spots in each conference are decided through the Play-In Tournament.
The seventh and eighth seeds face off, with the winner earning the seventh seed.
The loser plays the winner of the ninth vs. tenth seed game to determine the eighth seed.
The playoffs follow a best-of-seven format.
Teams need four wins to advance.
The first round, conference semifinals, and conference finals lead to the NBA Finals, where the last two teams battle for the championship.
When Do NBA Playoffs Start and When Does the Championship Begin?
The 2025 NBA Playoffs begin on April 19, following the Play-In Tournament from April 15-18.
The first round features matchups based on regular-season standings.
The conference semifinals start on May 5-6, and the conference finals begin later in May.
The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 5, with the last possible game played in mid-June.
Each series can last up to seven games, making the postseason a two-month-long event.
This schedule allows time for travel, rest, and strategic adjustments.
It also gives teams that won early more time to prepare for the next round.
Matchups are important in the NBA Playoffs.
Some teams are built for the regular season, while others are built for deep playoff runs.
Defense, experience, and star power usually separate true contenders from early exits.
What Can You Bet on Right Now for the NBA Playoffs?
Futures Bets on the NBA Championship
Bettors can place futures bets on which team will win the NBA championship.
Current odds list the Celtics and Thunder as co-favorites at +225, followed by the Cavaliers at +800.
Longer-shot options include the Lakers and Nuggets at +1400 or the Grizzlies at +2500.
Bettors looking for high-risk, high-reward picks can wager on teams like the Kings (+30000) or the Pistons (+50000).
Futures odds shift based on team performance and injuries.
Locking in bets early can provide better value compared to waiting until the later playoff rounds.
If a lower-seeded team wins an early series, their odds will shorten.
Series and Game Betting
Once the playoffs begin, sportsbooks offer bets on individual series winners.
Bettors can wager on which team will advance and in how many games.
Game-by-game bets include moneylines, spreads, and totals.
A moneyline bet picks the outright winner, while a spread bet considers the point differential.
Totals betting involves predicting whether the final score will go over or under a set number.
Each round of the playoffs presents new betting opportunities.
Teams adjust strategies, and oddsmakers update lines based on performance.
Injuries also play a big role, especially when a key player misses time.
Player Props and Live Betting
Player prop bets focus on individual performances.
These include points, rebounds, assists, and other statistical categories.
Live betting allows bettors to place wagers while the game is in progress.
Odds change based on game flow, creating opportunities to find value.
If a favorite struggles early, their odds may improve for a comeback bet.
In-game trends, such as a team’s ability to close strong in the fourth quarter, can provide insights for live betting strategies.
Veteran teams tend to perform better in crunch time, while younger teams may struggle under pressure.
How to Find Value Bets in NBA Futures
Finding value in futures betting means identifying teams with better odds than their true probability of winning.
A team with +3000 odds to win the title needs just over a 3% chance to provide value.
Injuries, depth, and playoff experience affect a team’s chances.
A deep team with strong defense may be undervalued compared to a star-driven roster.
Monitoring betting line movement helps spot trends.
A team’s odds shortening over time suggests increased confidence from sharp bettors.
If a team has a deep bench and can survive injuries, they have a better shot at making a deep run.
30 NBA teams play today and 0 NFL teams play we made it😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/tImyoH0M2M
— MAL (@playoffMAL) February 12, 2025
What Teams Have the Best Chances of Reaching the Playoffs?
Western Conference Contenders
- Oklahoma City Thunder +230
- Denver Nuggets +1500
- Los Angeles Lakers +1700
- Memphis Grizzlies +3000
- Los Angeles Clippers +3000
- Golden State Warriors +3500
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, and Denver Nuggets lead the Western Conference.
They hold top seeds and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
The Lakers and Rockets are set to meet in the 4 vs. 5 matchup, while the Clippers take on the Nuggets.
The Timberwolves and Mavericks compete in the Play-In for the seventh seed.
The San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns fight for the last spot.
The Suns, with a star-heavy lineup, are a dangerous lower seed.
The Golden State Warriors have struggled this season but remain a threat.
Their championship experience makes them dangerous if they secure a playoff spot.
Eastern Conference Contenders
- Boston Celtics +235
- Cleveland Cavaliers +750
- New York Knicks +1000
- Milwaukee Bucks +3000
The Celtics, Cavaliers, and Knicks are leading contenders in the East.
The Heat and Hawks battle in the Play-In for the seventh seed.
The Bulls and Magic are fighting for a playoff spot.
Chicago must win two straight Play-In games to qualify.
The Bucks, despite lower odds, have postseason experience.
If their stars stay healthy, they can make a deep run.
The 76ers are another team to watch.
If they can stay healthy and play strong defense, they can compete with the top teams in the East.
Writer’s Picks to Win the NBA Championship
Top Favorites
The Celtics and Thunder are the two best teams based on futures odds, from NBA Playoff bets to Title bets.
Boston has elite defense and multiple scoring options.
Oklahoma City has a young, dynamic core.
The Nuggets, last year’s champions, are still a threat.
They have a proven playoff roster and experience winning under pressure.
The Lakers, with star power and playoff-tested veterans, offer value at +1700.
If they stay healthy, they can push for a title run.
Best Value Pick
The Cavaliers at +750 present an interesting choice.
They have depth, strong defense, and an improving young core.
The Clippers at +3000 are another option.
With key players healthy, they can upset higher seeds.
For a longshot bet, the Timberwolves at +5000 have the defense to make a surprising run if their offense stays consistent.
Final Prediction on Betting NBA Matches
The NBA Playoffs are unpredictable, but experience and depth matter most.
The Celtics, Thunder, and Nuggets are the safest bets to reach the Finals.
Among underdogs, the Lakers and Cavaliers have the tools to go deep.
Betting on a mix of favorites and value plays is a smart approach.
Final pick: Celtics over Nuggets in six games.
This would be a great series, and include two teams that have been there and done that.
Both have won a title recently, and both have a big part of their nucleus back from the title season.
Table of Contents: NBA Playoffs Games
Learn How Betting NBA Playoffs Work
What Can You Bet on Right Now for the NBA Playoffs?
What Teams Have the Best Chances of Reaching the Playoffs?
Writer’s Picks to Win the NBA Championship
You got the Betting Picks, time to bet money on NBA today | NBA Live Lines MyBookie Betting Odds for the Matches
^ Top^ Top2 months left in the regular season, 13 teams of 15 are involved in the race for playoffs spots … its getting serious. pic.twitter.com/0UkfJIFj9Z
— ZahoNBA (@ZahoNBA) February 12, 2025
Now That You Know How Do NBA Playoffs Work: Test that with Your MyBookie Account
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What is the NBA Playoff? Let’s Find Out
The NBA Playoff is the postseason tournament held annually in the NBA, where the top eight teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) compete to determine the league’s champion.
The playoffs begin after the regular season ends and are structured as a series of best-of-seven elimination rounds. Teams must win four games in a series to advance to the next round.
What Includes NBA Playoffs:
When are talking about playoff, we have the following format:
- First Round:
The 1st seed faces the 8th seed, the 2nd seed faces the 7th, and so on.
This round is often full of surprises, with upsets being possible. - Conference Semifinals:
The winners of the first round face each other to determine the top teams in each conference. - Conference Finals:
The last two teams from each conference compete to win their conference title and move on to the NBA Finals. - NBA Finals:
The winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences play for the ultimate prize, the NBA Championship.
The NBA Playoffs are one of the most thrilling sports tournaments globally, featuring high-stakes games, incredible performances, and unforgettable moments.
To stay up-to-date on the latest NBA odds, lines, and betting tips, check out our NBA News section.
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