NBA Betting Odds 2015: Heat, Nets, Celtics, Pacers, Hornets Fighting For 2 Playoff Spots

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, 13 of the 16 NBA playoff teams are all but set in stone. Two teams are still competing for the eighth and final postseason berth in the Western Conference, while five teams in the East still have a real chance to miss the playoffs or secure the No.7 or No.8 seed.

The Miami Heat are just one game better than the No.9 seed in the East, and the Brooklyn Nets are holding onto the No.8 seed with just a half-game lead. The Boston Celtics are right on Miami and Brooklyn’s heels, trailing by one game in the loss column. The Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets are looking to sneak their way into the postseason, just two games in the loss column behind the Heat and Nets.

Miami (-400) is an overwhelming favorite to make the playoffs, considering their final eight opponents consist of just two playoff teams. Brooklyn (-110) is almost considered a tossup to qualify for the postseason.

Boston (+150) has the best betting odds to make the playoffs of any team that doesn’t currently have a postseason berth. The Celtics struggled mightily in the first half of the season, but winning 17 of their last 28 games has helped them surge in a weak conference.

Indiana (+175) has some work to do before they can make the playoffs, and the status of Paul George could determine their fate. The forward is expected to return this season, but he’s missed the first 74 games with a broken leg. If the Pacers are in the playoffs with a healthy George, their championship odds will likely be better than any other potential No.7 or No.8 seed in the conference.

Charlotte (+600) is considered to be the biggest longshot to make the playoffs of the five Eastern teams. The Hornets will close the season with multiple games against NBA Finals contenders, facing the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors in four of their last five games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (-1100) haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet, but it’ll be more surprising if they miss the postseason than if Charlotte is still playing after the regular season. Even with Kevin Durant out for the rest of the year, they have a 2.5-game lead on the New Orleans Pelicans (+650.) The Pelicans are likely to miss the playoffs in the West, but their record would be good enough to land them the No.6 seed in the West.

Of all the team’s still fighting for playoff spots, Oklahoma City has far and away the best championship odds. Charlotte has the worst odds, given virtually no chance of winning it all.

Below is the complete list of NBA Finals betting odds, courtesy of Bovada.lv.

Cleveland Cavaliers 2/1

Golden State Warriors 12/5

San Antonio Spurs 6/1

Atlanta Hawks 10/1

Chicago Bulls 14/1

Houston Rockets 14/1

Memphis Grizzlies 14/1

Los Angeles Clippers 18/1

Oklahoma City Thunder 33/1

Portland Trail Blazers 33/1

Dallas Mavericks 40/1

Toronto Raptors 50/1

Washington Wizards 100/1

Boston Celtics 200/1

Indiana Pacers 200/1

Miami Heat 200/1

Milwaukee Bucks 200/1

New Orleans Pelicans 300/1

Brooklyn Nets 500/1

Charlotte Hornets 500/1

Phoenix Suns 1000/1