In early November, an anonymous bettor placed a $750 bet on DraftKings that the Brooklyn Nets would win the 2020 NBA Finals.
At the time, the team was off to a 3-4 start and was a week away from losing star guard Kyrie Irving to a season-derailing shoulder injury. Kevin Durant, of course, was already out with a torn Achilles. Even with Irving, the team’s chances were slim.
In January, another bettor wagered $400 at 300-1 odds for the Nets to, well, cut down the nets. That bet came during a stretch in which the Nets had dropped 12 of their previous 14 games.
When those bets were made, the gamblers were perceived as radicals in Vegas. But since the NBA season went on hiatus in March, the Brooklyn Nets have been one of the hottest teams in the league — in the eyes of sports gamblers.
The belief that Durant and Irving could return this season has made its way to Las Vegas as sports betting organizations have seen a spike in wagers for…
