In an effort to add some flavor to regular-season hoops, the NBA has come up with the In-Season Tournament. This new competition format will feature all 30 teams and crown a winner in the Championship on Dec. 9.
If you’re wondering how it’s all going to work, you’re not alone. Below, I’ll hash out what you need to know about the NBA’s latest innovation, as well as highlight the latest betting odds and some of the best bets you can make today.
2023-24 NBA In-Season Tournament Betting Odds
Track line movement for the NBA In-Season Tournament with our odds widget.
Caesars Sportsbook provides NBA lines for the 2023-24 NBA In-Season Tournament betting data used in this article, which are current as of Tuesday, July 18, at 10 a.m. ET.
- Boston Celtics (+750)
- Denver Nuggets (+1000)
- Phoenix Suns (+1000)
- Milwaukee Bucks (+1000)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+1100)
- Golden State Warriors (+1200)
- Miami Heat (+1500)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+1500)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+1600)
- Sacramento Kings (+2000)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+2000)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+2200)
- Atlanta Hawks (+2200)
- Dallas Mavericks (+2200)
- New York Knicks (+2200)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+2500)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+2500)
- Memphis Grizzlies (+2500)
- Utah Jazz (+3000)
- Houston Rockets (+3500)
- Chicago Bulls (+3500)
- Indiana Pacers (+3500)
- Orlando Magic (+3500)
- Toronto Raptors (+4000)
- Brooklyn Nets (+4000)
- San Antonio Spurs (+6000)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+6000)
- Charlotte Hornets (+6000)
- Washington Wizards (+8000)
- Detroit Pistons (+8000)
How Does the NBA In-Season Tournament Work?
From Nov. 3 through Nov. 28, all teams will participate in four games against the other teams in their specified groups on tournament nights. Their records in these games will determine if they advance to the knockout rounds, which feed into the semifinal and championship rounds.
After group play finishes, the team with the best record in each group will automatically advance to the knockout round. Additionally, two wild card teams will advance, with one coming from each conference.
The teams with the best records in group play games will have the honor of hosting the knockout round games, while the semifinals and championship game will take place in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 9.
What Are the NBA In-Season Tournament Groups?
Note: Each team’s odds of winning their respective group are shown.
West Group A
- Phoenix Suns (+145)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+220)
- Memphis Grizzlies (+425)
- Utah Jazz (+650)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+1200)
West Group B
- Denver Nuggets (+160)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+350)
- Dallas Mavericks (+350)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+400)
- Houston Rockets (+900)
West Group C
- Golden State Warriors (+175)
- Sacramento Kings (+275)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+350)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+375)
- San Antonio Spurs (+1400)
East Group A
- Philadelphia 76ers (+200)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+200)
- Atlanta Hawks (+350)
- Indiana Pacers (+600)
- Detroit Pistons (+1100)
East Group B
- Milwaukee Bucks (+160)
- Miami Heat (+180)
- New York Knicks (+350)
- Charlotte Hornets (+1000)
- Washington Wizards (+1200)
East Group C
- Boston Celtics (-110)
- Toronto Raptors (+500)
- Chicago Bulls (+550)
- Orlando Magic (+600)
- Brooklyn Nets (+625)
2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Best Bet
Boston Celtics (+750)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The Celtics are one of the top NBA Finals contenders this coming season, but that isn’t the only reason they’re the odds-on favorites to win the In-Season Tournament.
Boston got an incredible draw. The Nets, Raptors, Bulls, and Magic are all borderline-playoff teams at best, while the Celtics are coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Out of all 30 teams, Boston is the only one that looks to have a real chance of going undefeated in group play. That would give the Celtics a significant advantage in the knockout round, where they’d likely be hosting another upper-tier contender.
As long as Jayson Tatum and co. can stay healthy and find their footing in the early part of the season, Boston will have a great chance of winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. Lock in the Celtics with your NBA bet of the day.
2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Favorites
Denver Nuggets (+1000)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
The reigning NBA champions got an interesting group draw. The Clippers, Pelicans, and Mavericks could make for some tough opponents, but there are enough variables with each team that Denver may not have to play a single one of them at full strength.
The Nuggets also have arguably the best home-court advantage in the league, and they’ll play two of their four group play opponents in Denver, which cushions the blow of having to (potentially) go up against the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, and Luka Dončić.
There’s really no need to go so micro with the Nuggets, though. This is the best team in the NBA. Until proven otherwise, they should be considered among the favorites to win virtually everything.
Phoenix Suns (+1000)
The new-look Suns headline West Group A, which also features the Grizzlies, Lakers, Jazz, and Trail Blazers. Los Angeles figures to provide the most significant challenge to Phoenix in group play, but otherwise, it may be smooth sailing for the Suns, who won’t even have to face off with Ja Morant.
In Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, Phoenix has three superstars who can carry the load on any given night. Their offense will be difficult for most to keep up with, though it could take some time before they figure out how to play together.
- See where the Suns stand in the latest NBA Western Conference odds.
I’d prefer to wait and see how the on-court product looks before betting on Phoenix — especially considering this price. There are far too many moving parts on this roster, and I need to see them build some chemistry.
2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Contenders
Milwaukee Bucks (+1000)
The Bucks got a deceptively tough draw, and there’s a chance they could end up missing out on the knockout round altogether depending on where they play their toughest opponents. The Knicks and Heat both offer significant challenges, especially if those end up being road games for Milwaukee.
That’s not to say I don’t believe in this Bucks team. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains one of the greatest players in the world, and Milwaukee did well to retain its key rotation pieces this summer.
With that said, we’re about to see how mentally tough the Bucks are. After getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs and making a coaching change, things could go either way for them in the first few months of the season.
Golden State Warriors (+1200)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
I’m of the opinion that the Warriors will return to their dominant ways in 2023-24. Golden State looked unserious in 2022-23 — especially on the road — but with Chris Paul in the mix and most other distractions eliminated, things could get ugly fairly quickly for the Dubs’ opponents.
The Warriors also got a mostly favorable draw in group play, with the Kings, Timberwolves, Thunder, and Spurs lined up as their contenders. There are some real wild cards here, but I fully expect Golden State to take care of business.
Playoff experience could end up playing a significant role in this tournament, and the Warriors are unparalleled across the league. If they can get things going early, they could prove to be a tough out in the elimination rounds.
2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Sleepers
Miami Heat (+1500)
The Heat made a spectacular run to the NBA Finals this past season, and there’s a chance they’ll enter the 2023-24 campaign with a much-improved roster. Damian Lillard is firmly in Miami’s sights as a potential trade target, though there’s reportedly been little traction on a deal.
Even still, the rumors and speculation have elevated the Heat’s odds of winning not only the In-Season Tournament, but also the NBA Finals, Eastern Conference, and Southeast Division. If, for some reason, a trade doesn’t end up happening, we could be dealing with some serious buyer’s remorse.
Because there’s already some baked-in Lillard at this price, it may not make sense to bet the Heat until something is finalized. Miami also has the Knicks and Bucks in its group, so it’s far from a sure thing that they’d win.
Dallas Mavericks (+2200)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
On paper, the Mavericks look like an offensive juggernaut. We’ve yet to see what the duo of Dončić and Kyrie Irving can accomplish, but after a full summer of working together, I’m inclined to believe the on-court product will be much better than what we got at the tail-end of the 2022-23 season.
It’s hard to say whether that will be enough for them to upend the likes of the Nuggets, Clippers, and Pelicans — who they’ll be facing off with in group play — but the potential is there.
Between Irving and Dončić, this team can go bucket-for-bucket with the best teams in the league. The sample size of these In-Season Tournament games is just small enough that something unexpected could happen, and if there’s a sleeper out there that could flip the switch and win with ease, it’s Dallas.
