NBA In-Season Tournament 2023: Celtics the Favourites to Lift the Trophy

Boston Celtics’ fans across the globe have plenty to look forward to at the start of December with the team set to continue their quest to win the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.

The Celtics rounded off their group stage campaign in style, recording an emphatic 124-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls to progress to the knockout rounds.

They went into the game needing to win by at least 23 points and the Brooklyn Nets to defeat the Toronto Raptors, and both requirements were ticked off.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum continued their excellent form by weighing in with a combined 51 points to help the Celtics blow the Bulls away.

Over 19,000 fans were packed into TD Garden to watch the game, while many more tuned into the game on live streaming platforms in the United States.

The clash also attracted a sizeable audience in Ireland, with the Celtics’ large following there staying up until the early hours to cheer the team to victory.

Many of them had placed wagers on the Celtics overcoming the odds to reach the quarter-finals, and were rewarded with significant payouts on the morning after the game.

They may well be tempted to play up their winnings in the outright market, with online bookmakers rating the Celtics as 3/1 favourites to win the tournament.

Celtics fans in Ireland could even be eyeing other big sports events this weekend as an opportunity to boost their bankroll before wagering on their team.

Fairyhouse Racecourse is set to stage its prestigious Winter Festival on Saturday and Sunday, giving Irish bettors the chance to go head-to-head with the bookies again.

All of the top horse racing betting sites are covering the meeting, and will likely be inundated with bets from Celtics fans hoping to increase their stake for wagering on the NBA In-Season Tournament.

While the Celtics are worthy favourites to win the title, it is worth noting their route to the final is not easy. They visit Indiana Pacers in the quarter-finals – a team who went unbeaten in the group stage.

If the Celtics emerge victorious, they will face the winners of the Milwaukee Bucks vs New York Knicks game in the semi-finals. With some talented teams in the other half of the draw, it would be foolish to think the outcome is a foregone conclusion.

Knockout Rounds Schedule

The line-up for the Knockout Rounds is as follows:

Quarter-Finals

Monday, December 4

Tuesday, December 5 Semi-Finals Thursday, December 7

Championship Game

The quarter-final ties are played in home markets, while the semi-finals and championship decider will be staged at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Games played in the quarter-finals and semi-finals are single elimination and will count as regular season fixtures.

NBA In-Season Tournament 2023 – Outright Odds

The latest odds to win the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament are as follows: