The 2023-24 NBA season kicks off on Tuesday, October 24. Let’s take a look at each team’s win totals before the regular season begins.
Eastern Conference Win Totals
- Boston Celtics: 55.5
- Milwaukee Bucks: 54.5
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 50.5
- Philadelphia 76ers: 49.5
- Miami Heat: 45.5
- New York Knicks: 45.5
- Atlanta Hawks: 42.5
- Indiana Pacers: 38.5
- Brooklyn Nets: 37.5
- Chicago Bulls: 37.5
- Orlando Magic: 37.5
- Toronto Raptors: 36.5
- Charlotte Hornets: 31.5
- Detroit Pistons: 27.5
- Washington Wizards: 24.5
The Celtics and Bucks sit atop the win-total rankings (all odds via Draft Kings) in the Eastern Conference after each club brings in a new All-Star. Jrue Holiday joins the reigning 57-win Celtics, bringing their win total up by two games compared to last season (55.5 vs. 53.5). The Bucks won 58 games last season and with the Damian Lillard addition, their preseason win total rises by two wins over last preseason’s (54.5 vs. 52.5).
The expectation for the Cavaliers continues to grow after hitting their 2022-23 over (47.5) by a handful of games (51 wins). Evan Mobley further elevating his game in year three likely plays a role in oddsmakers deeming Cleveland to have a top-3 win total in the East.
The Pacers went from being projected as the worst team to begin last season to playoff optimism with Tyrese Haliburton growing his game. The Pistons are projected again to finish bottom-three in the East while the Wizards have the lowest win total after having the fifth-worst heading into the season last year.
Western Conference Win Totals
- Denver Nuggets: 53.5
- Phoenix Suns: 51.5
- Golden State Warriors: 47.5
- Los Angeles Lakers: 47.5
- Los Angeles Clippers: 46.5
- Memphis Grizzlies: 45.5
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 44.5
- New Orleans Pelicans: 44.5
- Sacramento Kings: 44.5
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 44.5
- Dallas Mavericks: 43.5
- Utah Jazz: 33.5
- San Antonio Spurs: 32.5
- Houston Rockets: 31.5
- Portland Trail Blazers: 28.5
The defending champs’ win total rises a year after winning 52 regular season games. The Grizzlies are among the teams that drop, though with Ja Morant out for 25 games, it’s easy to see why oddsmakers made that call.
LeBron James‘ Lakers enters year 21 with slightly elevated expectations compared to last season (47.5 vs. 45.5). The Lakers always loom as a team that could make a major trade or see one of both of their stars miss significant time.
Stephen Curry‘s club won just 44 games last season. However, the Warriors again hold a top-4 win total entering the season.
The Pelicans had a win total of 44.5 games heading into last season and they won 42 games. The Pelicans have a win total of 44.5 games heading into this season and the team hopes to get more than 29 games from Zion Williamson.
There are expectations that the Blazers will be at the bottom of the Western Conference after trading away Lillard. No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson brings excitement, though oddsmakers peg Portland’s win total at a lowly 28.5 games. That mark would have been ahead of four West teams in last year’s preseason win totals, though it’s clear that oddsmakers expect fewer teams to more-or-less intentionally swim near the bottom of the conference.
