By a 29-1 vote, the NBA’s board of governors approved the plan to finish the 2019-20 season. The National Basketball Players Association expects to give their blessing on the league’s proposal sometime on Friday afternoon.
The plan calls for 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams to first play a shortened eight-game conclusion of the regular season. Once teams lock their seeding, if the ninth-seeded team is within four games of the eighth-seeded team, then the two clubs will fight for the final playoff spot in a play-in tournament.
After possible play-in round completes, each conference plays normal best-of-seven rounds until the NBA crowns a champion. The NBA has set October 12 as the final day of the playoffs if teams need a Game 7 to determine the title.
The Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida will host the games at their ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Players are allowed to enjoy golf at the resort and eat at on-site restaurants, but must maintain social distancing protocols.
The league is planning for daily Covid-19 testing to ensure the safety of players and staff.
Colorado Sportsbooks Open Betting on NBA Playoffs
After news broke on the NBA’s return, Colorado sportsbooks set their lines for the conference winners and NBA champion.
Western Conference Championship Odds
In the Western Conference, sportsbooks, like DraftKings and FanDuel, list the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers as favorites. The Denver Nuggets clock in with +1200 odds at DraftKings and +1000 at FanDuel.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Fox Bet | BetRivers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +160 | +165 | +130 | +160 | +160 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +180 | +190 | +175 | +175 | +180 |
| Houston Rockets | +700 | +700 | +700 | +800 | +700 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1200 | +100 | +1200 | +1000 | +1200 |
| Utah Jazz | +1400 | +1200 | +1400 | +1100 | +1400 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +2000 | +1600 | +1800 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +4000 | +3500 | +5000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +6600 | +6500 | +30000 | +7000 | +6600 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +8000 | +9000 | +15000 | +9000 | +8000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +12000 | +11000 | +30000 | +12000 | +12000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +15000 | +13000 | +30000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +25000 | +19000 | +50000 | +20000 | +25000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +25000 | +21000 | +30000 | +20000 | +25000 |
Eastern Conference Championship Odds
In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks are the runaway odds-on favorite to reach the NBA Finals. Most sportsbooks have significantly reduced the value of a Bucks bet to take the East. BetMGM, for example, places the Bucks at -182 to win the conference.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Fox Bet | BetRivers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -165 | -175 | -182 | -188 | -165 |
| Boston Celtics | +700 | +700 | +800 | +700 | +700 |
| Toronto Raptors | +700 | +800 | +800 | +750 | +700 |
| Miami Heat | +900 | +900 | +1000 | +900 | +900 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +900 | +900 | +1000 | +850 | +900 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +3300 | +3300 | +2200 | +2800 | +3300 |
| Indiana Pacers | +3300 | +2900 | +4000 | +2800 | +3300 |
| Orlando Magic | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Washington Wizards | +15000 | +12000 | +20000 | +12000 | +15000 |
NBA Championship Odds
For the NBA title, the Lakers and Bucks are the clear-cut favorites with each drawing +250 at DraftKings. Milwaukee (+240) slightly favor Los Angeles (+260) at FanDuel.
The Nuggets clock in with +1200 odds at DraftKings and +1000 at FanDuel to win their first NBA title.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Fox Bet | BetRivers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +250 | +260 | +275 | +260 | +250 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +250 | +240 | +240 | +240 | +250 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +333 | +340 | +350 | +340 | +333 |
| Houston Rockets | +1300 | +1300 | +1200 | +1200 | +1300 |
| Boston Celtics | +2200 | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 | +2200 |
| Toronto Raptors | +2200 | +2400 | +2200 | +2500 | +2200 |
| Denver Nuggets | +3000 | +2500 | +2200 | +2200 | +3000 |
| Miami Heat | +3000 | +2700 | +2500 | +3000 | +3000 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +3000 | +2700 | +2500 | +2500 | +3000 |
| Utah Jazz | +3300 | +2900 | +2500 | +2200 | +3300 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +4000 | +3600 | +3000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +8000 | +8500 | +5000 | +5000 | +8000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 | +8000 | +10000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +12500 | +12000 | +50000 | +20000 | +12500 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +17000 | +16000 | +25000 | +20000 | +17000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +25000 | +21000 | +50000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +25000 | +21000 | +50000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| Orlando Magic | +30000 | +25000 | +25000 | +25000 | +30000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +30000 | +25000 | +150000 | +25000 | +30000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +30000 | +25000 | +50000 | +25000 | +30000 |
| Washington Wizards | +30000 | +25000 | +50000 | +30000 | +30000 |
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