For the second consecutive year, the most dominant team in the NBA from start to finish has won the championship. The 2024 Celtics and 2023 Nuggets share many similarities, and they also serve as the two teams with the shortest NBA Finals odds for 2025.
The Association hasn't seen repeat NBA Finals winners throughout the years of 2019 to 2024, a sign of solid parity and a reminder of how difficult it has become to dominate an entire postseason. Only LeBron James' superteam Heat (2012 & '13) and the Steph Curry and Kevin Durant Warriors ('17 and '18) have gone back-to-back over the past decade.
But the Celtics and Nuggets both have a good shot of keeping their core rotations intact — and maybe even improving this offseason. Could the 2025 championship matchup pit Boston and Denver together in a battle of the elites?
Let's take a look at the BetMGM odds for the 2025 NBA Finals, and discuss the likelihood of a Celtics vs. Nuggets matchup in the championship round.
NBA Finals 2025 odds
All odds courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
| Team | Odds |
| Celtics | +310 |
| Nuggets | +750 |
| Mavericks | +950 |
| Thunder | +950 |
| Bucks | +1000 |
| Timberwolves | +1000 |
| Knicks | +1600 |
| 76ers | +1600 |
| Clippers | +2000 |
| Warriors | +2500 |
| Lakers | +2500 |
| Suns | +2500 |
| Heat | +3500 |
| Grizzlies | +3500 |
| Cavaliers | +5000 |
| Pacers | +5000 |
| Magic | +5000 |
| Pelicans | +5000 |
| Kings | +5000 |
| Hawks | +10000 |
| Bulls | +10000 |
| Spurs | +10000 |
| Rockets | +10000 |
| Raptors | +25000 |
| Jazz | +25000 |
| Nets | +50000 |
| Hornets | +50000 |
| Wizards | +50000 |
| Trail Blazers | +50000 |
| Pistons | +50000 |
NBA Finals 2025: Celtics and Nuggets projects as most likely matchup
It's hard to argue with either of these teams being listed as odds-on favorites to represent their respective conferences in the 2025 NBA Finals. The Nuggets have the best player in the world, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and a continually evolving supporting cast led by Jamal Murray. The Celtics have arguably one of the best core rotations of the modern era, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Both these teams also have savvy head coaches in Denver's Michael Malone and Boston's Joe Mazzulla, and each squad has established itself as a dominant home team. The Celts went 46-6 at TD Garden in the 2023-24 regular season and playoffs — the Nuggets have gone 81-19 at Ball Arena since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
Boston has the added benefit of playing in the Eastern Conference, which has been far less competitive (and more injury-ravaged) than the West over the past couple of years. The Western Conference is stacked right now, and it doesn't look like the power dynamic will swing back to the East's favor anytime soon.
NBA Finals 2025: Exact matchup odds
Top 14 shortest odds from BetMGM's "Name the Finalists" NBA Finals futures board
| Matchup | Odds |
| Celtics vs. Nuggets | +900 |
| Celtics vs. Mavs | +1100 |
| Celtics vs. Thunder | +1100 |
| Celtics vs. Wolves | +1150 |
| Nuggets vs. Bucks | +2000 |
| Celtics vs. Clippers | +2200 |
| Celtics vs. Lakers | +2500 |
| Celtics vs. Suns | +2500 |
| Celtics vs. Warriors | +2500 |
| Bucks vs. Mavericks | +2500 |
| Bucks vs. Thunder | +2500 |
| Bucks vs. Wolves | +2500 |
| Nuggets vs. 76ers | +3500 |
| Nuggets vs. Knicks | +3500 |
That's why betting on the Celtics vs. Nuggets in an exact matchup wager could be riskier than the +900 odds suggest. Boston could easily get back to the championship for a second straight season — Denver, as this year proved, will probably have a tougher path. The Nugs could need to get past any three of the Mavs, Wolves, Thunder, and the likely-improved Lakers, Clippers and Suns.
Why the Celtics are a good bet to win the 2025 NBA Finals
The No. 1 reason to bet the Celtics to win the 2025 NBA Finals: consistency. Boston consistently proved itself as the best team on both ends of the floor in 2023-24, and Brad Stevens should be able to keep the majority of his core rotation intact for its championship defense. Stevens has also proved that he never settles, so it's very possible he actually adds to this team's depth by 2025.
It's much easier to win in the NBA once you've done it before, so expect Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to be even better next season. And with one of the best veteran supporting casts of the 21st century around them, the Celtics should remain firmly atop BetMGM's NBA Finals odds boards for the long run.
Why the Nuggets are a good bet to win the 2025 NBA Finals
Having the best (and smartest) player in the world matters in the NBA. Jokic and his stellar supporting cast should learn from their disappointing 2024 second-round exit at the hands of the Wolves, and it's a safe bet that Denver will also improve its bench rotation between now and October. This team is still set up very well for sustained long-term success.
For over two seasons now, the Nuggets have consistently maintained winning records against most of the powerhouses of the NBA. They have star power, great home-court advantage with a raucous crowd and high-altitude conditions, and an intelligent and aggressive approach that the majority of opponents can't figure out. As long as its core remains, Denver will continue to be one of the two best bets to win the next NBA Finals championship.
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