While there is no exact science to betting on the NBA Playoffs or NBA Finals, most successful betting strategies shift significantly from the regular season.
Here is a quick guide to betting on the NBA Playoffs at Maryland online sportsbooks, including the latest NBA Finals odds, types of bets available, and tips on navigating the betting markets of the NBA postseason.
NBA Finals odds
Below find the latest odds on every NBA team to win the NBA Finals from Maryland’s top online sportsbooks. During the playoffs you can also get up-to-the-hour game lines (spread, moneyline, totals).
Types of playoff/NBA finals bets
Online sportsbooks in Maryland allow you to bet on the NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals in various ways, including:
- Futures: The NBA futures markets are where you can bet on a team to make the NBA Playoffs, win a Division, win a Conference Final, or win the NBA Finals.
- Game lines: Online sportsbooks post moneyline odds, totals, and spread bets for every NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals game.
- Live betting: Online sportsbooks let you bet on in-game props at odds that change with the action in every NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals game.
- Series bets: Maryland online sportsbooks allow you to bet on a team to win a series once the matchup is set. The more specific you get with the number of games and series score, the better the odds paid.
How to bet on NBA playoffs & NBA finals in Maryland
Most major sports betting apps are available in Maryland. These include DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook, and Caesars Sportsbook.
How to create a sportsbook account
In order to bet on the NBA regular season, NBA Playoffs, and Finals online in Maryland, you’ll have to register for an account and make a deposit into that account.
You can start the registration process by clicking on our links to the Maryland online sportsbook of your choice. You should find a “Register” or “Sign Up” button there. Click on it to go to the registration form and fill in the required personal and account information.
If there’s a space for a Maryland sportsbook promo code or bonus code, find that here on this website and enter it when prompted. This code will make sure you get the best new player bonus available. Finally, accept the terms and conditions and submit your registration form.
The Maryland online and mobile sportsbook you signed up with will verify your age, identity, and location and you’ll be ready to make a deposit. This is an easy process that should take just a few minutes. Log in, find the “Deposit” or “Cashier” tab and choose your preferred method of deposit.
These will usually include everything from credit and debit cards, to online bank transfers, payment processors, and cash at Maryland retail locations. Plug in the amount you wish to deposit, follow the prompts, and confirm it all. The funds will be available in your account almost immediately, allowing you to browse through the NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals betting markets available and place bets.
How many teams have won back-to-back NBA Championships?
Here’s a look at the teams that have won back-to-back NBA Championships:
| Team | Back to Back Years |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis Lakers | 1952, 1953, 1954 |
| Boston Celtics | 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966; 1968, 1969 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1987, 1988; 2000, 2001, 2002; 2009, 2010 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1989, 1990 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1991, 1992, 1993; 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Houston Rockets | 1994, 1995 |
| Miami Heat | 2012, 2013 |
| Golden State Warriors | 2017, 2018 |
NBA Finals results past 10 years
Here’s a look at the results of the past 10 NBA Finals:
| Year | Champion | Runner Up | Series Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | 4-1 |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 4-2 |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-2 |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | 4-1 |
How do the NBA Playoffs work?
The NBA Playoffs is a 16-team, four-round tournament in which eight teams from the NBA’s Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference battle to see which team will be the next NBA Champion. The teams are seeded in each conference according to their regular season records from #1 to #8 to determine the initial pairings (#1 vs. #8, #2 vs. #7, #3 vs. #6, #4 vs. #5).
Teams play best four-of-seven game series in each round. The home-and-away games for the series follow a 2-2-1-1-1 format. That means the winner has to win 16 games total (four each in four series) and the playoffs as a whole can last two months from April to June.
There is an additional “play-in tournament” that finalizes which teams are the #7 and #8 seeds in the playoffs. The four teams from each conference that finish with the 7th-, 8th-, 9th-, and 10th-best records play each other to determine which two of the four make it through to the official NBA Playoffs.