WITH the NBA playoff field nearly finalized, the Brooklyn Nets are the favorites over the Lakers and Clippers.
The Nets are +210 ahead of the defending champion Lakers (+500) and Clippers (+600), with the Los Angeles teams nearly even in the odds to win the Western Conference.
The Lakers are playing for the No. 7 seed in the play-in format against the Golden State Warriors. Led by scoring champion Steph Curry, Golden State is +16000 to win the title.
Utah is even with the Clippers at +600. The Jazz expect Donovan Mitchell (ankle) to play in their first-round series.
After the Milwaukee Bucks (+800) and Philadelphia 76ers (+800), there’s a steep drop off to the next set of contenders. The Bucks open the playoffs with a series against reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami.
The Heat have +3000 odds to win the championship.