The NBA Finals are almost here, with the final four teams competing for the title. In the Eastern Conference, long-time rivals Boston Celtics and Miami Heat battle each other, while the Los Angeles Lakers face off against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference. All four teams are determined to make it to the Finals, which start on June 1st and will be available to watch on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+. The Finals will be a best-of-seven series, and the format will be 2-2-1-1-1, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
The Celtics and Lakers have had the most trips to the NBA Finals, with 22 and 32 appearances, respectively. The Celtics and the Lakers have both won 17 titles, while the Heat have played in six finals and won three, and the Nuggets have never made it to the Finals. Given the regular-season standings, should the Celtics make the Finals, they would have home-court advantage over both the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets would have home-court advantage over the Miami Heat, and the Miami Heat would have that advantage over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Denver Nuggets have the best odds of winning the NBA title according to Caesars Sportsbook, with +170. Boston has odds of +105, while the Lakers are +500. Miami has the least favourable odds, at +1600. The NBA Finals would be keenly watched by fans all over the world, and while only one team can take home the crown, these final four teams have proven their mettle on the court, and fans can look forward to some exciting basketball.