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2024 NBA Cup Championship Predictions with Betting Odds

by Spencer Toth - 12/9/2024

NBA Cup championship predictions Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks

The NBA Cup bracket has been set, and now is the perfect time to make your NBA Cup championship picks. Doc’s Sports will be breaking down all eight remaining contenders and their chances at lifting the coveted NBA Cup. 

Doc’s Sports offers NBA picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

Eastern Conference:
New York Knicks: +300

The New York Knicks went a perfect 4-0 in the group stage of the NBA Cup to book their place in the knockout round. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson have become a lethal duo on the offensive end, and the rest of the Knicks starting five is capable of playing lockdown defense. New York doesn’t have the same depth as fellow contenders, but their dominant starting five has been able to lead them to numerous wins this season. The Knicks made several big offseason signings, and the valuable playoff-like experience this tournament can bring to New York could go a long way at the season’s end. The +300 odds make the Knicks joint favorites to win the NBA Cup, and it’s hard to argue with these odds. New York is a -350 favorite to beat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and already beat both the Magic and Bucks this season. The +300 odds imply they will be -120 favorites in the final two rounds, which is a fair line for this championship-caliber team. The Knicks are favorites for a reason and are worthy of your investment before the knockout stages get underway. 

Pick: New York Knicks +300

Milwaukee Bucks +425

The Bucks have managed to shake off their slow start and suddenly have meaningful games to play at this stage of the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t been able to build on his 2021 championship, but his dominant play has once again caught the attention of the league. His 32.5 PPG is on pace for his career high, and he has scored 30+ In seven of his last eight games. It is hard to doubt Antetokounmpo in single game situations, but the lack of a supporting cast will cost the Bucks in the cup. They may be able to scrape by a short-handed Magic side in the first round but will struggle against the top teams in the league. Damian Lillard is a real liability on the defensive end, and an aging Bucks team doesn’t have what it takes to make a deep run. The +425 odds don’t offer much more of an upside compared to the Knicks, making this an easy pass. 

Pick: Pass

Atlanta Hawks +2000

Trae Young has led Atlanta to a surprising position in the knockout stages after they upset the Celtics to top the group. Young’s 20.9 PPG is his lowest mark since his rookie year, but his 12.2 assists ensure he is still crucial to their offensive success. The Hawks are built like a team capable of upsetting the league’s top dogs, but a lack of defensive effort will cost them. Dyson Daniels appears to be the missing piece for the Hawks, but they still consistently fall shot on defense. They have already lost 5 games this year where they scored 119 or more points, and that simply won’t cut it against the Knicks. There is lots of upside on the +2000 odds, but I don’t want anything to do with the Hawks at this stage. If you are dead set on tailing them to the championship game, simply taking their moneyline on a nightly basis is probably the best way to go. 

Pick: Pass

Orlando Magic +2000

The Magic lost Paolo Banchero to injury early in the season but haven’t missed a beat since. They have a smothering defense capable of slowing down not only the Bucks but anyone in the Eastern Conference. Franz Wagner has stepped up on the offensive end, and it is time to stop doubting the Magic’s capabilities. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. While the NBA Cup isn’t a championship, I wholeheartedly expect Orlando’s defense to allow them possibly a deep knockout stage run. There is a massive upside at +2000, and the Magic are worth a few dollars for the potentially massive payout. 

Pick: Orlando Magic +2000

Western Conference:

OKC Thunder +300

The Thunder are the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Cup. They went 3-1 in the group stage and now have a tantalizing date with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks in the quarterfinals. Oklahoma City is brimming with young talent, and every NBA Cup game will help their future development. While the Thunder have been able to dominate in the regular season, I still think they are a bit overvalued here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been fantastic for OKC, but he cannot truly take over games like Doncic or Kyrie Irving. They are only -170 to beat the Mavericks in the first round, meaning they would have to be heavy favorites in the final two games for this price to make sense. At this price, the Thunder could be the worst pick to make at this stage. 

Pick: Pass

 

Houston Rockets +650

The Rockets lost their final group stage game in the NBA Cup, but they still finished on top of West Group A. Fred VanVleet has been a great leader for the Rockets, but it’s hard to see the undrafted free agent lead Houston past formidable opponents. There are no 20 PPG scorers on the Rockets, but they do have 7 players averaging 11+ PPG this season. Alperen Sengun has been the most consistent offensive threat, but he still lacks the killer blow needed for this kind of competition. The Rockets have a promising future, but I’m not sure they will get past the Warriors, let alone make a run to the Finals. There is some upside at +650, but it’s better to wait and see if they book their spot in the semifinals before you can play them at approximately +350 odds. 

Dallas Mavericks +800

The Mavericks made a run to the NBA Finals last season. And if it were not for injuries, they could have lifted the championship. It’s not surprising to see the Mavericks as slight road underdogs against the Thunder, but the discrepancy in their NBA Cup odds is way too wide. Luka Doncic appears to be healthy, Kyrie Irving is playing great basketball, and the rest of the Mavericks roster has shown they can deliver in the big moments. The +800 odds are more than generous enough to take a stab with the Mavericks. This is the best value of all eight NBA Cup contenders, and don’t hold back in unloading the clip on the Mavericks.

Top Pick: Dallas Mavericks +800

Golden State Warriors +800

You can call me an Old Head, but I fully believe these Warriors still have it. Steph Curry’s style has allowed him to remain one of the best players in the league at 36, and the addition of Buddy Hield has kept the Warriors lethal from behind the arc. Draymond Green is declining, but the Warriors still have a real shot at beating the Rockets in the first round. Golden State hustles on both ends of the court and is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league. That is a great recipe for success in the NBA Cup style tournament. While I am not as high on the Warriors as the Mavericks at the same price, Golden State still has some good upside to make a run in the NBA Cup. 

Pick: Golden State Warriors +800 

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