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Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Thunder vs. Pacers betting report: 'We're taking a lot of Pacers money'
An unexpected NBA Finals matchup — or at least a half-unexpected matchup — has drawn speculation that the series won't be popular. But if betting on NBA Finals odds is any indication, then Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder is plenty popular. With Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, the series definitely has bettors' attention. Even with OKC a seemingly prohibitive favorite — and perhaps because of that — and Indiana conversely a sizable underdog. "It's the odds of the series, making people think it's gonna turn off the bettors. But it's not. We're taking a lot of Pacers money on the series, and we've taken a lot of Pacers money the last six weeks," said Johnny Avello, director of sportsbook operations for DraftKings. Further, thanks to prop bets and such, bettors are finding favorable ways to bet the favorite Thunder, as well. Avello helps dive into NBA Finals odds and action. A Lot of Opportunities Oklahoma City is a hefty -700 favorite to win the NBA Finals, meaning it takes a $700 bet to win $100 (total payout $800). On the flip side, Indiana is a +500 underdog, so a $100 bet would profit $500 (total payout $600) if the Pacers pull the upset. "It's a different look. But nevertheless, it's the NBA Finals, and it'll write big business," Avello said. As noted above, public bettors are attracted to the Pacers' series price. It's an opportunity to bet a little and win five times that bet. But there are opportunities to boost profits on the favorite, too. "Betting the Thunder on the number of games in the series, you're getting a plus-money price," Avello said. "If you think the Thunder win in five games, it's +250. A six-game series is +450, or a sweep is +260. That's one way people are betting it." To spell it out in full: Rather than betting $700 on OKC -700 to win the series — again, to profit $100 — one could bet $100 on Thunder +250 to win in five games to profit $250. For Thursday's best-of-seven series opener, bettors are getting involved on both sides, though in different ways. Late Saturday night, DraftKings opened the Thunder -9, and on Wednesday afternoon, OKC advanced to -9.5. On the moneyline — just wagering on which team wins the game, regardless of margin — it's Oklahoma City -410/Indiana +320. "In Game 1, they're betting the 'dog on the moneyline. But on the spread, they're betting the Thunder," Avello said. Needs and Liabilities Oklahoma City was either No. 1 or No. 2 in NBA championship odds all season long. Now, as noted above, the Thunder are strong favorites. That wasn't the case for Indiana. There were points during the regular season where bettors could get the Pacers at +10000 (100/1) or more in NBA Finals futures odds. At the outset of the playoffs, in mid-April, you could still get Indiana at a hefty +8500 to lift the trophy. A $100 bet back then would be four wins away from $8,500 profit now. So DraftKings' need at the moment is no surprise. "The ideal outcome for us is for the Thunder to win the whole thing, because they were a short price all year," Avello said. "Whereas the Pacers were longer shots before the playoffs started. It doesn't take much to build up liability." I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie A DraftKings customer waited until late April to get involved with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but then did so with a splash. On April 28, the bettor put $100,000 on Thunder -175 to win the Western Conference. OKC delivered a 4-1 series win over Minnesota, and the customer profited $57,140 (total payout $157,140). But there could be a lot more to come for this bettor, who has two major wagers on the Thunder to win the NBA Finals: $105,000 Thunder +160 $100,000 Thunder +130 The first bet would profit $168,000 and the second $130,000 if the Thunder — now -700 favorites to win the championship — claim their first NBA title. That's $298,000 potential profit, on a total payout of $503,000. On the flip side, small bets that cash big are quite nice, as well. A FanDuel Sportsbook customer already learned that once with a $100 bet on Pacers +7000 to win the Eastern Conference, a wager made back on Feb. 20. So that wager already cashed for $7,000 profit. At the same time, the bettor put $100 on Pacers +13000 (130/1) to win the NBA Finals. If somehow the Pacers pull the big upset, that customer knocks down another $13,000 in profit. It's hard not to root for a five-figure win on a $100 bet. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He's based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks, Game 4: Time, TV, streaming info
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks, Game 4: Time, TV, streaming info Show Caption Hide Caption NBA 2nd-round playoff upsets provide betting value DraftKings' Johnny Avello describes how bettors are reacting to the NBA playoffs 2nd round upsets. After the New York Knicks stunned the reigning champion Boston Celtics with unbelievable comebacks in Games 1 and 2, the Celtics bounced back to the tune of a 22-point victory in Game 3. Despite being down 2-1 in the series, the Celtics have outscored the Knicks by 18 points heading into Game 4. Prior to the start of this series, common consensus was the Knicks were heavy underdogs against Boston. Even with a 2-1 series lead, it's hard to imagine a world where the Knicks emerge victorious. After all, it took two insane 20-plus point comebacks in order for them to take two games. That isn't sustainable over the course of a seven-game series, and given that Boston already dominated New York at Madison Square Garden, the home-court advantage that the Knicks had built up after taking the first two games may not be as big an advantage as we think. That said, a 3-1 series lead is almost insurmountable. If the Knicks can pull off another upset tonight, they'll be in the driver's seat for the remainder of the series. At the same time, should the Knicks drop Game 4, the Celtics will have tied the series, regained home-court advantage, and will have all the momentum heading into Game 5. Here's how to watch this pivotal contest in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals. NBA News: What time is NBA draft lottery? TV channel, time and odds for top pick How to watch Celtics vs. Knicks, Game 4: Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT Location: Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden TV: ESPN ESPN Stream: Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo Stream Celtics vs. Knicks with Fubo
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The Knicks' 2-0 lead on the Celtics has created value on both sides of the series line
The Knicks' 2-0 lead on the Celtics has created value on both sides of the series line In most cases, when a team takes a 2-0 series lead in the playoffs, that team becomes a massive favorite to complete the series win and move on. The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics isn't most cases. Despite a 2-0 lead on the Celtics, the Knicks are still series underdogs at +100 odds at DraftKings, trailing the Celtics at -120 because, well, it's hard to imagine the defending champs will continue losing the way they have, blowing multiple 20-point leads. The Knicks' 2-0 advantage on Boston is stunning, and not just because they were a +500 underdog entering the series. It's also because the Celtics were the East's overall title favorites, expected to prevail over every other team on their side of the bracket. The odd circumstances of it all has created value on both sides of the line, according to DraftKings director Johnny Avello. "The Knicks, there's an opportunity. The team's up 2-0 and they're still getting even money. So, if you think the Knicks can finish this team off at some point -- because Celtics gotta win four out of five -- that's still some pretty good value on the Knicks," Avello told BetFTW. "But, it's also value on the Celtics if you think they're going to rebound from this 0-2 deficit. So, we're seeing money on both of those sides." He's right. The Celtics opened the series as -800 favorites. They're now -120 to prevail, which is value that wasn't previously available for people who still believe they can bounce back. Plenty people do. Boston remains the second overall title favorite at +310, which is far better than the Knicks at +1300 and only trails the Oklahoma City Thunder at +130. It's a much different story than what's happening in the other East semifinal, where the underdog Pacers' 2-0 lead completely flipped their series odds against the Cleveland Cavaliers to become a -205 favorite. Bettors think the Cavs can bounce back, Avello said, but it's a cautious optimism: "We're not seeing them bet with both hands." Given how underdogs have dominated the early part of the second round, smart money might just shift to the Thunder, who redeemed their Game 1 loss to Denver with a 43-point beatdown. "The Thunder bounced back [Wednesday], and they bounced back in a big way. So I believe that the bettors will continue to bet the Thunder," Avello said.
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Knicks disrespect hits fever pitch with one sportsbook still pricing them as underdogs vs. Celtics
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Holding a 2-0 series lead against the Celtics after beating them twice in Boston, the Knicks head back to Madison Square Garden in the driver's seat — but the chips are still stacked against them entering Game 3, according to an oddsmaker. You read that right. The Celtics, who would have to win four of the potential five remaining games to win the series, are still favored to do so, coming in at -120 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Knicks sit at +100. The series outcome with the lowest odds is Celtics in seven at +215, followed by Celtics in six with +290 odds. DraftKings director of sports operations, Johnny Avello, explained why it is the only major sportsbook with the Knicks at plus-money to win the series, although most sportsbooks have the series odds close to a pick'em. 'The Knicks opened the series as significant underdogs at +550 on DraftKings Sportsbook,' Avello told The Post in an email. 'Now, after storming back for another wild win and taking a 2-0 lead heading back to The Garden, they're still priced at even money to win the series, and underdogs in Game 3. 'That speaks volumes about the market's confidence in Boston's ability to bounce back and overcome their late-game struggles. Knicks fans have the chance to back their team at even money for the series — and will continue to embrace the underdog role.' The Knicks famously could not get over the hump of the elite teams, going 0-10 against the Cavaliers, Celtics and Thunder during the regular season. Jayson Tatum has looked like a shell of his MVP-caliber self. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Celtics, in particular, dominated the Knicks during the regular season, smashing them to the tune of a 132-109 regular season opening win. Boston averaged 125 points spanning the four games against the Knicks and scored an insane 130.2 points per 100 possessions. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. But it might be time to throw all of that out the window. The Celtics don't look particularly healthy in this series, as star Jayson Tatum appears to be battling a wrist injury and Jaylen Brown received knee injections prior to the playoffs and has looked like a shell of himself. Kristaps Porzingis has been forced to sit and watch most of this series from the bench as he battles an ominous viral infection that has forced him to miss parts of the regular season as well. The Knicks will be 5.5-point home underdogs in Game 3 on Saturday. Betting on the NFL? Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
Fox Sports
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA playoff odds: 'Time for the 'dogs to have their day'
Generally speaking, the past few months have been fantastic for the public betting masses. They cleaned up regularly on favorites in NFL odds, then made a pile of cash on favorites in March Madness odds. It took much longer than oddsmakers anticipated, but the pendulum finally swung — at least for a couple of days — on NBA playoff odds. Underdogs are 5-0 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) through the first five games of the second round. "I'm not that surprised, and the reason I say that is because, over the past five months, we've had a lot of chalk winning, with football and the NCAA Tournament," said Johnny Avello, director of operations for DraftKings Sportsbook. "There will always be a time when there's a switching of the guard. This was that time for the 'dogs to have their day." The run of upsets is creating interesting betting opportunities for the NBA playoffs. Avello helps dive more into those prospects. Second-Round Switcheroo It all started Sunday with Game 1 of the Indiana Pacers-Cleveland Cavaliers series. The Pacers were 8.5-point road underdogs and won outright 121-112. Then it continued on Monday and Tuesday: The New York Knicks, also 8.5-point road underdogs in Game 1, shocked the Boston Celtics 108-105 in overtime. The Denver Nuggets, 10.5-point Game 1 road underdogs, sank the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119, on Aaron Gordon's final-seconds 3-pointer. Golden State dumped Minnesota 99-88 in Game 1, with the Warriors 6-point road underdogs. So, in all four second-round Game 1s, underdogs won outright, the first time that's ever happened in the NBA. And, for good measure, in Pacers-Cavs Game 2 on Tuesday, Indiana rallied from 20 down to win 120-119 on a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer, with the Pacers 5.5-point 'dogs. Where bettors can most likely take advantage is with series odds on the Celtics and Thunder. Prior to Game 1, Boston was a hefty -800 favorite to win the series vs. New York, while OKC was -700 to win the series vs. Denver. Now, it's Celtics -340 and Thunder -290. "Now, bettors have the opportunity to bet two favorites at a much shorter price. And they're doing it. We're seeing some Celtics money and some OKC money," Avello said. And the opportunity isn't just with straight bets. Parlaying the Favorites Oklahoma City put up the NBA's best regular-season record, at 68-14 SU, then swept Memphis 4-0 in the first round. Boston was 61-21 SU in the regular season and dispatched Orlando 4-1 in the first round. Parlaying both those teams to win their second-round series, now that the odds are a little easier to stomach, could be worth your while. And if you really want to get frisky — there's a better chance you'll lose your bet, but the payout is better if you win — you could even add in Cleveland, which opened as a -400 series favorite vs. Indiana and is now a +175 underdog. But Avello advices proceeding with caution. "It's there for bettors, and it's being done by some," he said. "You probably feel confident in the Celtics. It's hard to believe the Knicks could beat the Celtics. But the problem with being confident in that parlay bet is that you don't feel as good about the other two teams. "OKC is just starting to come into its own, and it's the same with the Cavs. Plus, the Nuggets have been in this position recently. They have the pedigree." Indeed, Denver won the NBA championship in 2023. "I think we'll see more money on the Celtics, parlayed lightly with the others, or just straight bets on the Celtics," Avello said. "Parlaying two or three of them doesn't seem as sure, in the bettors' eyes. I don't know if they're feeling that, outside of the Celtics series." Two-Way Wagering Thanks to the second-round underdog run, there is another option: backing both sides in series odds. "We saw customers bet the Knicks and Nuggets pretty good at +550 and +500, respectively, before Game 1," Avello said. "If you took +550 with the Knicks, and now you can lay -340 with the Celtics, you can get off your spot. You put yourself in a guaranteed spot where you can't lose." The operative words there: "Can't lose." Meaning, the worst-case scenario is to break even, and the other scenario is making a couple hundred bucks. For example: If, pre-series, you put $100 on the Knicks +550, then you could now come back on the Celtics -340 for $340. If New York wins, then you'd win $550, minus the $340 losing Celtics bet, for a total profit of $210. If Boston wins, then you'd win $100, but lose $100 on the Knicks wager, so you'd break even. And if you wanted to lock in a little profit, then you've got a narrow window there, too, if you do the math. But let's be honest here: Those strategies are only if you're completely risk-averse. And if you bet a hundred bucks on the Knicks +550, then you're not risk-averse; you did so because you want to turn a little into a lot. So you're probably better off skipping all that math. Let it ride and hope for a Knicks or Nuggets upset. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for . He previously worked for Covers. Follow him on Twitter @ PatrickE_Vegas . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
