NBA Playoff Preview 2024: Eastern and Western Conference Finals Odds & Predictions

This 2023-24 NBA playoff preview and Eastern/Western Conference Finals predictions are brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from NBA postseason odds to the UFC and everything in between.

It seemed like the 2023-24 NBA postseason began just yesterday but the truth is we’re already down to four times. This year’s conference finals are set to begin in just a few days, pitting the Indiana Pacers against the Boston Celtics in the East while the Dallas Mavericks go head-to-head against the Minnesota Timberwolves out West.

The #NBAConferenceFinals presented by Google Pixel are set! pic.twitter.com/6zfdPSvzW2

— NBA (@NBA) May 20, 2024

The conference finals are always an exciting time because it means we’re only a few ways from crowning this year’s champions. At the same time, it can be hard to take in all of this NBA postseason-related information at once — especially with so many betting opportunities on the horizon.

Fortunately, Betting News is here to help with my NBA conference finals preview, featuring the latest odds and my predictions for the 2023-24 Eastern and Western Conference Finals.

NBA Eastern Conference Finals 2024 Preview

Pacers vs Celtics Series Schedule

• Game 1: @ TD Garden — Tuesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2)
• Game 2: @ TD Garden — Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 3: @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 4: @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2)
• Game 5: @ TD Garden — Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 6: @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 7: @ TD Garden — Sunday, June 2 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Pacers vs Celtics NBA Series Odds

All Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Eastern Conference Finals odds are courtesy of BetOnline. 

• Series odds: Pacers (+600) | Celtics (-820)
• Number of games: 4 (+215) | 5 (+200) | 6 (+320) | 7 (+375)
• Series total: 5.5 games — Over (+120) | Under (-150)
• Most likely scenario: Celtics 4-1 (+210)

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Pacers vs Celtics Eastern Conference Finals Predictions & Best Bet

Oddsmakers are expecting a lopsided series when the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics collide in the Eastern Conference Finals. BetOnline is favoring Boston to win this series at a whopping -820 odds, which carry an implied probability of 89.1%.

The Pacers’ playoff journey began when they overcame the injury-riddled Milwaukee Bucks in six games to make it out of the opening round. The New York Knicks provided a stiffer test in Round 2, but the Pacers still found a way to push forward, sending the former packing with a 130-109 blowout win in Game 7.

Teamwork has been Indiana’s main crutch throughout the playoffs. The Pacers boast seven players who are averaging at least 10.5 points in the playoffs as Pascal Siakam leads the charge with 21.1 points with a 53.7% field-goal percentage. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging a team-high 8.1 assists despite being banged up while Myles Turner is averaging 6.5 rebounds with 2.5 threes on 45.7 shooting.

Several players — including Pascal Siakam — have stepped up throughout the Pacers’ NBA playoff run. 

Meanwhile, the Celtics haven’t exactly been challenged too much through the first two postseason rounds. Joe Mazzulla’s team defeated both the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, further cementing themselves as the team to beat out East.

Unsurprisingly, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been the Celtics’ best players, averaging 24.3 and 23.1 points, respectively. Derrick White has also been a standout performer this spring as he averages 18.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 48.5% from the floor and 43.5% from deep.

The Pacers and Celtics collided five times throughout the regular season, resulting in three victories for the latter. A pair of Boston’s wins game in the only two games at TD Garden as Indiana was outscored by an average of 27.0 points on the road.

With that in mind, I’m taking the Celtics to win this series in five games. The Pacers have been solid, but we aren’t talking about injury-plagued Bucks and Knicks teams anymore. The Celtics are healthy for the most part and have more than enough top-level talent to give the Pacers their biggest challenge so far.

Indiana did beat Boston twice at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the regular season, so I don’t anticipate a sweep. Still, the Celtics should hardly break a sweat here.

Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Eastern Conference Finals Prediction: BOS

Best Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Eastern Conference Finals Bet: BOS 4-1 (+210)

NBA Western Conference Finals 2024 Preview

Mavericks vs Timberwolves Series Schedule

• Game 1: @ Target Center — Wednesday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 2: @ Target Center — Friday, May 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 3: @ American Airlines Center — Sunday, May 26 at 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 4: @ American Airlines Center — Tuesday, May 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 5: @ Target Center — Thursday, May 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 6: @ American Airlines Center — Saturday, June 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 7: @ Target Center — Monday, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Mavericks vs Timberwolves NBA Series Odds

All Mavericks vs. Timberwolves NBA Western Conference Finals odds are courtesy of BetOnline. 

• Series odds: Mavericks (+153) | Timberwolves (-173)
• Number of games: 4 (+500) | 5 (+275) | 6 (+200) | 7 (+200)
• Series total: 5.5 games — Over (-175) | Under (+145)
• Most likely scenario: Timberwolves 4-3 (+350)

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Mavericks vs Timberwolves Western Conference Finals Predictions & Best Bet

Unlike the Eastern Conference Finals, BetOnline is anticipating a close-fought Western Conference Finals showdown. While the Timberwolves are opening as the -173 series favorite, those odds only hold an implied win probability of 63.4%.

The Mavericks’ path to the conference finals hasn’t been easy as they ran into two good teams: the LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas needed six games to defeat both of those franchises, winning Games 5 and 6 in both series to advance to where they are today.

Like most players at this point, Luka Doncic has been playing banged-up. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Slovenian superstar from averaging 27.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. The Mavericks have also been fortunate enough to have the likes of Kyrie Irving (21.1 PTS/4.0 REB/5.4 AST) and P.J. Washington (14.3 PTS/6.8 REB/1.5 AST) to help support Doncic.

Kyrie Irving has been instrumental in helping the Mavericks achieve postseason success. 

The Timberwolves’ postseason, on the other hand, has been fairly mixed. They breezed past the Phoenix Suns in Round 1 with a four-game sweep but needed to go the distance to overcome the Denver Nuggets, winning 98-90 in Game 7 to send the defending NBA Champions packing.

While several Timberwolves have played well in the playoffs, none compare to Anthony Edwards. The ex-first overall selection is averaging a team-leading 28.9 points on .504/.398/.843 splits and has already racked up three 40-point performances.

When it came to the regular-season series, things leaned in Minnesota’s direction. The Timberwolves won three of their four matchups against the Mavericks, notching victories by eight, 18, and 34. points. In fact, the T-Wolves are now 6-2 SU in their last eight games against the Mavs dating back to the 2021-22 campaign.

Having said that, I’m taking the Timberwolves to win this series. Depth wins out in the playoffs and that’s exactly what Minnesota has. While the Mavericks boast both Doncic and Irving, they struggle to win when their dynamic duo has an off-night. With Edwards playing like the best player in the league, I like the favorites in this series.

I will take a neutral best bet approach, though, by backing this series to go seven games. These are two hungry teams who aren’t strangers to lengthy series. If the best players live up to their true potential, we could have an all-time back-and-forth series on our hands.

Mavericks vs. Timberwolves NBA Western Conference Finals Prediction: DAL

Best Mavericks vs. Timberwolves NBA Western Conference Finals Bet: Series to go 7 games (+200)

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NBA Playoffs 2023-24 FAQ

When are the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs?

• The 2023-24 NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 20, and should be wrapped up by Sunday, June 23.

Where are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

• The location of the 2023-24 NBA Finals will be determined once there is only one team remaining from each conference in the playoffs.

How can I watch the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs?

• Every game of the 2023-24 NBA postseason will be airing on ABC, TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV.

Where can I bet on the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs?

• Basketball bettors can wager on this year’s NBA playoffs and championship odds on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends: