NBA playoffs 2024: Favorite picks, props for Celtics-Pacers, Wolves-Mavericks - ESPN
The 2024 NBA playoffs roll on as the conference finals begin Tuesday in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Celtics hosting the Indiana Pacers. In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Dallas Mavericks for Game 1 on Wednesday.
So which bets stand out in the conference finals? Here are the series bets and props bets our experts Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Tyler Fulghum, Steve Alexander and Jim McCormick are looking to make.
Odds current as of publication time. For most current odds go to ESPN BET
Tyler Fulghum: Pacers +2.5 games (+130). This line feels a bit disrespectful to the Pacers. We just need this to get to six games. Boston will be starting the series without Kristaps Porzingis. The Pacers were 2-3 vs. Boston in the regular season and we've seen the Celtics lose games at home in each of the first two rounds against Miami and Cleveland.
Eric Moody: Over 5.5 games in series (+125). Bettors may be surprised to find the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston has been here six times in the last eight seasons, while Indiana hasn't since 2014. In Game 1, I'm looking forward to seeing how the Celtics' defense handles Tyrese Haliburton. This is a Boston team that's still without Kristaps Porzingis and has a history of struggling at home. This series will go over 5.5 games.
Steve Alexander: Pacers +600 to win the series. Yes, I'm from Indiana. Yes, I grew up in Market Square Arena. I picked the Pacers to lose to Boston in the Eastern Finals at the start of the season, but I like the odds being offered and I wouldn't put it past the Pacers to be playing in the Finals. I mean, nobody wins Game 7 at New York, right?
Jim McCormick: Celtics win series 4-1 (+165). Betting a five-game series