Basketball

Nets, Lakers still betting favorites to win NBA title despite setbacks


The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have both encountered numerous setbacks throughout the 2020-21 NBA season. That’s not all they have in common on the first Wednesday in May. 

BetOnline.ag lists the Nets, second in the Eastern Conference standings at 43-23, as the favorites to win the NBA Finals at +200. The Lakers follow at +375, which is fascinating considering that Los Angeles club doesn’t yet own a guaranteed spot in the first round of the playoffs. 

Heading into Wednesday’s action, the Lakers are 37-28 and sixth in the Western Conference standings, only one spot and one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers in the race to avoid the dreaded play-in tournament. Additionally, four-time NBA champion and superstar LeBron James will likely miss at least two upcoming games due to lingering issues related to a high-ankle sprain that previously kept him out for six weeks and that he aggravated this past Sunday. 

The Nets, meanwhile, have had their big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in the lineup together for a total of seven games, per Malika Andrews of ESPN. 

As for the rest? The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns are currently No. 1 seeds in their conferences but are both +1100 to win the title. The Los Angeles Clippers trail the Utah Jazz in the standings, but the Clippers (+600) sit ahead of the Jazz (+800) among listed favorites. Reports surfaced Wednesday that the Milwaukee Bucks, +1000, may part ways with coach Mike Budenholzer if they aren’t the last team standing when the Finals conclude. 

Keep an eye on BetOnline.ag to see how the odds change between May 5 and the start of the play-in tournament on May 18. 





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