Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point performance on Monday night was followed on Tuesday by an announcement by the NBA that one of its random performance-enhancing drug (PED) testing regimens would take place for the team. Mitchell dished out 11 assists, the most by a player who also scored 70 or more points in NBA history. He scored or assisted on 99 points in the game, the highest total since Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points (with no assists) in 1962. Let’s take a look at where Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers, and the rest of the NBA, sit on the current list of sports betting odds to win the NBA championship. We also have some insights on some of the contending teams.
NBA News: Updated Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +400 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +500 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +700 |
| L.A. Clippers | +950 |
| Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns | +1000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1200 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1300 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1700 |
| New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers | +2000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +3000 |
| Miami Heat | +4200 |
| Toronto Raptors | +4600 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +6500 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +8000 |
| L.A. Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves | +10000 |
| N.Y. Knicks, Chicago Bulls | +16000 |
| Utah Jazz | +24000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +40000 |
| Washington Wizards | +49000 |
| Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs | +50000 |
Boston it taking on water after a 16-game stretch in which the team has gone 8-8, including a rout on Tuesday night at the hands of Oklahoma City – without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Remember when the Celtics started 18-4?
Brooklyn has won 12 in a row to turn a 13-12 beginning into an elite record, now just a half-game back of Boston. New coach Jacque Vaughn is teaching a more patient approach, and Kevin Durant is playing at an MVP level. December saw the Nets go 13-1, but a trip to Chicago, New Orleans and Miami this week will tell us more about where this team is headed.
Denver lost to Minnesota on Monday night but is still atop the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic has been dominating games, but when he’s on the bench, Bones Hyland’s emergence continues, and Michael Porter Jr is healthy, so the team actually has some scoring depth.
Memphis had dropped four of five but has won three in a row now, thanks in part to the 61 rebounds that center Steven Adams has pulled down in those games. That sets a team record for rebounds in a three-game stretch. One of those performances came Sunday, when Adams tied his career best with 23 (13 on the offensive end) against Sacramento.
Milwaukee doesn’t have Khris Middleton due to injury, but Giannis Antetokounmpo has been carrying the load, as we saw when he dropped 55 points in a huge win on Tuesday. Middleton will sit for his tenth game in a row on Wednesday, and Jrue Holiday has missed three of the last four games.
Philadelphia finally has Tyrese Maxey back from his foot injury, but he came off the bench, as the current starting rotation has beaten opponents by 10.6 points per 100 possessions, as De’Anthony Melton has taken Maxey’s spot. When Maxey was starting, that number was just 5.2. With Maxey healthy, will this change affect team chemistry?
New Orleans put up a 10-5 record in December despite missing Brandon Ingram, and Willie Green took home the Western Conference Coach of the Month award. Now Zion Williamson will have to miss three weeks or more with a right hamstring sprain, so Green’s coaching talents will be tested once again.
Dallas has won seven in a row, and while Luka Doncic (41.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 2.3 steals per game during the streak) has been the star, it is the rise of Christian Wood and renewed confidence for Reggie Bullock and Tim Hardaway Jr that has turned the moral victories from earlier in the season into actual wins on the scoreboard. The team is still -27 with Doncic on the bench during this stretch, though.
NBA Betting Odds
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