NBA Power Rankings Based on Championship Odds (Can Nets Withstand Kevin Durant's Injury?)
By Peter Dewey
The biggest storylines in the NBA over the past week have been in the injury department, as Kevin Durant, Zion Williamson, and Paul George have all went down to injuries.
However, there have also been positive injury moves, with Stephen Curry set to return on Tuesday and Anthony Davis reportedly getting closer to a return, which has moved the Los Angeles Lakers to +4000 to win the NBA title.
How do these injuries impact the futures market and how we should approach betting on it?
Let's break it down in this week's NBA Power Rankings:
1. Boston Celtics (+360) Last Week: No. 1
Boston still has the best record in the NBA, and now Robert Williams III is back in the starting lineup, which could help Boston unlock another guy for the rest of the season.
2. Denver Nuggets (+900) LW: No. 3
The Nuggets still lead the Western Conference, and the team is slowly improving defensively, now at No. 23 in defensive rating, a positive step from the beginning of the season.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (+1000) LW: No. 4
The Grizzlies are one of the hottest teams in the league, winning their last seven games and holding a 17-3 record at home.
4. Brooklyn Nets (+550) LW: No. 2
Brooklyn is in the No. 2 spot in the East, but can it hang on to this with Kevin Durant out about a month with an MCL injury?
5. Milwaukee Bucks (+750) LW: No. 5
The Bucks have not played well lately, but they still have another gear to reach once Khris Middleton is healthy.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2000) LW: No. 6
Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs have a chance to pass up the struggling Bucks in the East.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (+2000) LW: No. 9
The Sixers are 7-3 in their last 10 games, playing one of the best defenses in the league and now have their Big 3 all healthy for the first time since the start of the season.
8. Golden State Warriors (+900) LW: No. 10
The Warriors actually made a move up in the standings without Steph Curry, and now he's set to return on Jan. 10.
9. New Orleans Pelicans (+2200) LW: No. 7
Zion Williamson has a significant hamstring injury, which is going to be some pressure on Brandon Ingram to deliver when he's back from his toe injury.
10. Dallas Mavericks (+2500) LW: No. 8
Luka Doncic is the MVP favorite, and Dallas is still holding on to a top-four spot in the West.
11. Indiana Pacers (+20000) LW: No. 14
Are the Pacers for real? Indiana has the No. 6 seed in the East and ranks 17th in the league in net rating.
12. Sacramento Kings (+10000) LW: No. 12
The Kings are holding off the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 5 seed in the West, but they'll need to play better than .500 ball to keep that spot.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (+1000) LW: No. 11
Six straight losses and Paul George is hurt? The Clippers can't seem to put it all together right now.
14. New York Knicks (+25000) LW: No. 15
Julius Randle is playing like an NBA All-Star, and the Knicks are over .500 despite not having RJ Barrett the last two weeks.
15. Miami Heat (+4500) LW: No. 13
The injuries keep coming for the Heat, as Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are now out of the lineup on Tuesday.
16. Atlanta Hawks (+12000) LW: No. 18
The Atlanta Hawks are hanging around in the play-in tournament race, but they're also just 24th in the league in net rating...
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (+14000) LW: No. 20
The Wolves have won four straight and are back in the play-in mix despite Karl-Anthony Towns being out of the lineup.
18. Phoenix Suns (+2000) LW: No. 17
The Suns are 2-10 without Devin Booker this season. They've fallen under .500 and are looking like a play-in team more each and every game.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (+8000) LW: No. 16
The Blazers have really fallen off since early in the season, losing seven of their last 10 games. They're just a game ahead of the No. 11 seed Utah Jazz.
20. Chicago Bulls (+25000) LW: No. 22
Zach LaVine has been playing well lately, but DeMar DeRozan went down against Boston on Monday night, which could hurt the Bulls' momentum.
21. Los Angeles Lakers (+4000) LW: No. 23
LeBron James is unreal right now, and the Lakers' NBA Finals odds are on the rise. Anthony Davis' return could propel this team into the playoff picture.
22. Utah Jazz (+50000) LW: No. 19
So, the Utah Jazz aren't as good as they showed early in the season. Utah is now 11th in the West and has fallen under .500.
23. Oklahoma City Thunder (+100000) LW: No. 25
Don't sleep on OKC in the play-in race, as the team is now just 1.5 games out of the No. 10 seed.
24. Toronto Raptors (+12000) LW: No. 24
The Raptors have been a disappointment this season, and they could blow things up if they don't make a run by the deadline.
25. Washington Wizards (+60000) LW: No. 21
The Wizards have been a rollercoaster this season, but their advanced metrics show that they are a bottom 10 team in the leauge right now, ranking 25th in net rating.
26. Orlando Magic (+100000) LW: No. 26
After starting the year 5-20, the Magic have won 10 of their last 16 games...
27. San Antonio Spurs (+100000) LW: No. 27
The Spurs are the worst defense in the NBA, and it's only a matter of time before they fall to the bottom of the Western Conference standings given their current roster.
28. Charlotte Hornets (+100000) LW: No. 29
Charlotte is getting some solid play from LaMelo Ball, but the team is looking like a surefire lottery team.
29. Detroit Pistons (+100000) LW: No. 30
Jaden Ivey is going to have a chance to develop with the Pistons looking like one of the worst teams in the NBA.
30. Houston Rockets (+100000) LW: No. 28
Houston now has the fewest wins in the NBA, and it is currently on a seven-game losing streak.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.