Some things change, some things remain the same.
This year’s NBA Finals features the Golden State Warriors making it for their fifth consecutive season and the Toronto Raptors making the first appearance in their franchise’s history.
Pennsylvania bettors should visit the state’s sportsbooks for Game 1 and futures wagers before 9 p.m. Thursday night when the championship series tips off in Toronto. Or, they can take advantage of the soft launch period of SugarHouse Casino’s online sportsbook to place an online bet on the action or use live in-game betting during the action.
PA sportsbooks post close spreads
Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino sportsbook currently has the Raptors as a half-point favorite with Warriors superstar Kevin Durant out for Game 1. Moneyline odds for Game 1 are also very close: Warriors (-107), Raptors (-110). The over/under is currently set at 215.5.
Toronto, which swept Golden State in their two meetings this season, also has the added benefit of home-court advantage in the first game and the series. However, the Warriors are substantial favorites (-315) to win the championship. The Raptors are underdogs at +250.
Across the state, Parx Sportsbook has similar odds.
Steph Curry is betting favorite for Finals MVP
Warriors point guard Steph Curry is the current favorite for NBA Finals MVP at -143 on a futures bet. Here is a look at some other top contenders and their odds:
- Kawhi Leonard: +250
- Kevin Durant: +900
- Draymond Green:+900
- Klay Thompson: +2,000
- Kyle Lowry: +2,500
- Pascal Siakim: +4,000
- Serge Ibaka: +10,000
Demarcus Cousins is the longest shot for the Warriors at +20,000.
Sportsbook series odds favor Warriors in six games
The current series odds for the NBA Finals suggest a Warriors victory in six games. The series correct score bet carries the following odds:
- Golden State 4-2 (+250)
- Golden State 3-1 (+450)
- Golden State 4-0 (+450)
- Golden State 4-3 (+550).
A Raptors upset would bring a much larger return. Toronto’s current series odds are as follows:
- Toronto 4-3 (+550)
- Toronto 4-2 (+1,100)
- Toronto 4-1 (+1,200)
- Toronto 4-0 (+5,000)
Retail sportsbooks remain the only option for NBA Finals bets
Although Pennsylvania sportsbooks and many industry insiders expected to have online sports betting by now, the retail operations remain the only avenue for NBA Finals action. According to Play Pennsylvania, the delay in online betting appears to be partially due to Apple’s app store policies.
It’s not entirely clear when those issues will be resolved either.
So for now, a trip to one of Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks is the best pathway to NBA gaming besides driving over to New Jersey and betting on an app there.
Get there before the series tips off on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.