The NBA season is kicking off on Tuesday, October 18 and we’ll take one last look at the win totals before the regular season begins.
Eastern Conference Win Totals
- Boston Celtics: 53.5
- Milwaukee Bucks: 52.5
- Philadelphia 76ers: 50.5
- Brooklyn Nets: 50.5
- Miami Heat: 48.5
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 47.5
- Toronto Raptors: 45.5
- Atlanta Hawks: 45.5
- Chicago Bulls: 41.5
- New York Knicks: 38.5
- Washington Wizards: 35.5
- Charlotte Hornets: 33.5
- Detroit Pistons: 29.5
- Orlando Magic: 26.5
- Indiana Pacers: 23.5
The defending Eastern Conference champs enter the year with high expectations, as oddsmakers (all odds via Draft Kings) have the Celtics over/under at 53.5 games. Behind them is a cluster of three teams with real championship hopes this season: the Bucks (50.5), Sixers (50.5), and Nets (50.5).
The Cavaliers are one of the biggest risers in pre-season win totals after adding Donovan Mitchell to a promising core of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
The Pacers are expected to be the worst team in the conference based off of win totals. Could that be a sign that oddsmakers see Indiana trading away some of their veteran talents like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield? It certainly could be. Indiana’s roster could continue to shift by the end of the season and while they have young, promising talent, some growing pains are expected.
Western Conference Win Totals
- Phoenix Suns: 52.5
- Los Angeles Clippers: 52.5
- Golden State Warriors: 51.5
- Denver Nuggets: 50.5
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 49.5
- Dallas Mavericks: 48.5
- Memphis Grizzlies: 48.5
- Los Angeles Lakers: 45.5
- New Orleans Pelicans: 44.5
- Portland Trail Blazers: 39.5
- Sacramento Kings: 33.5
- Utah Jazz: 24.5
- Houston Rockets: 23.5
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 23.5
- San Antonio Spurs: 22.5
There are quite a few teams at the bottom of the Western Conference who are or will be in tank mode at some point this season. The Spurs, Thunder, Jazz and Rockets are how low expectations (though many reports have signaled that Houston wants to start winning again this season). That could be reporters parroting or it could be a real thing. Either way, oddsmakers don’t expect much from the Rockets.
Atop the conference, the Clippers are expected to make a strong return with the return of Kawhi Leonard. The Suns are the only team to have a higher win total to begin the 2022-23 NBA season than the Clippers.
