All it took was one game for the Golden State Warriors to reassume the favorite’s role in NBA championship odds. After a surprising Game 1 home loss, the Warriors rolled the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals to even the series.
Although the Warriors lost home-court advantage by way of the split, they still find themselves as favorites — ever so slight — in odds to win the NBA championship.
Props.com checks in with WynnBet for the latest update on NBA championship odds and action.
2021-22 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | -115 |
| Boston Celtics | -105 |
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 11 a.m. ET on June 6.
Life’s Great With Golden State
While Golden State is problematic for other sportsbooks, WynnBet is just fine with Stephen Curry and Co. nabbing a fourth title in eight seasons. Back on July 24, 2021, the Warriors opened +1100 in WynnBet’s NBA championship futures market. And all season long, the Warriors were never longer than +1100.
By the time the playoffs began, third-seeded Golden State was into +600 at WynnBet. The Warriors then dispatched Denver in five games, Memphis in six games, and Dallas in five games. With the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks out of the picture, along with the Phoenix Suns — second-round losers to Dallas — Golden State ascended to the favorite early in the postseason and was -155 to claim the crown entering the NBA Finals.
“We saw most of our Warriors action at the beginning of the season and in the last couple rounds of the playoffs. Basically, when they have been very popular and playing their best,” WynnBet senior trader Motoi Pearson said.
Ahead of Game 1, Pearson said it was all Warriors money on the NBA Finals series price. At this stage, down to the final two teams, championship futures odds and the series price are one and the same. Even with lopsided Warriors series play ahead of the Finals, WynnBet has no issue rooting for Golden State.
“We are a winner to the Warriors for what I think is a healthy amount,” Pearson said.
Boston Not Bad, But Not Good
WynnBet certainly wasn’t a believer in Boston, opening the Celtics at +5000 and sliding them all the way out to 100/1 by Jan. 30. But the C’s have been rolling pretty much since the day before they fell to 100/1.
Since Jan. 29, Boston is a stout 40-13 SU (and a none-too-shabby 34-18-1 ATS), through Game 2 of the NBA Finals. WynnBet has seen action on a Boston championship at various numbers on the NBA championship odds board. The Celtics traveled a long road from 100/1 long shots to -170 favorites after their big Game 1 rally. After the Game 2 loss, Boston fell to -105 to win the title, a slim ‘dog to Golden State’s -115 price heading toward Game 3.
“The Celtics have been very popular and have seen a lot of action since they started their run back to the top of the Eastern Conference,” Pearson said, noting Boston opened the postseason at +700. “The C’s are not a terrible decision, but we would not like to see them win.”
Boston, seeded second in the Eastern Conference, swept Brooklyn in the first round. The Celtics then survived two seven-game series to reach their first Finals since 2010. Jayson Tatum and Co. outlasted defending champion Milwaukee in the second round, then went the distance and beat East No. 1 seed Miami in the conference finals.
Pearson noted a couple of weeks ago that WynnBet already dodged its worst-case championship scenario when the Mavericks eliminated the Suns. That said, WynnBet would’ve much preferred a Heat-Mavericks final. But the risk room has to make do with Celtics-Warriors, and now needs the slight favorite Dubs to keep going after their Game 2 rout.