NBA odds 2017: Cavaliers lead pack on Eastern Conference betting lines at sportsbooks

The Cleveland Cavaliers went 16-5 straight up and 13-8 against the spread last postseason en route to winning the 2016 NBA Championship. With the playoffs rapidly approaching, the Cavaliers still sit atop the betting board by a wide margin to win the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland is a -300 favorite to advance to the NBA Finals out of the East at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Before going 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS over their last four games, the Cavaliers were 7-11 SU and 5-13 ATS over their previous 18. But with Wednesday night’s win over Boston putting Cleveland back in control of the first overall seed in the East, the Cavaliers appear to be finding their groove again.

Boston (+425 to win the East) can still finish with the top seed in the Eastern Conference down the stretch, but Wednesday night’s loss to Cleveland was a crushing blow. The Celtics are a strong team with a 50-28 SU and 39-38-1 ATS record and figure to be Cleveland’s biggest obstacle in the East. On the court, however, the Celtics are just 2-9 SU in their last 11 games against the Cavaliers after Wednesday’s 114-91 home loss.

After stringing together a 22-5 SU and 17-9-1 ATS record over a two-month span starting in the middle of January, the Washington Wizards (+900) were becoming a popular value pick as a potential dark horse in the Eastern Conference. The last month of play has cooled off both the Wizards and their hype, however. Washington is 6-7 SU and 4-9 ATS over its last 13 games, per the OddsShark NBA Database.

Perhaps the most intriguing dark horse in the East this season is the Toronto Raptors (+1200). The Raptors added Serge Ibaka at the trade deadline and have been playing well of late with a 9-2 SU and 7-4 ATS record over their last 11 games. Kyle Lowry, who has missed most of the second half with a wrist injury, returned Wednesday night and scored 27 in a 105-102 road win over Detroit.

After the top four teams in the East, the rest of the playoff picture gets pretty hazy. The Atlanta Hawks (+5000) and Milwaukee Bucks (+6000) are favorites to hold on to playoff spots, leaving the Miami Heat (+10000), Indiana Pacers (+10000), Chicago Bulls (+10000), Detroit Pistons (+15000), and Charlotte Hornets fighting for the final two spots.

NBA Eastern Conference Betting Odds

Cleveland Cavaliers -300

Boston Celtics +425

Washington Wizards +900

Toronto Raptors +1200

Atlanta Hawks +5000

Milwaukee Bucks +6600

Miami Heat +10000

Indiana Pacers +10000

Chicago Bulls +10000

Detroit Pistons +15000