NBA title odds: Which teams should you buy, sell ahead of postseason?

The NBA playoff field is (nearly) complete, and the opening games of this year's first-round playoff series are mere days away. Which teams are still worth wagering on at this point in the season - and which should you avoid entirely?

Ahead of Friday's play-in games, here are the updated NBA title odds at theScore Bet, along with which teams we're buying and selling entering this postseason.

Buy

Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)

Oddsmakers reacted swiftly when the 76ers acquired James Harden at the trade deadline, pricing them anywhere from +650 to +750 to win the title. Since then, Philadelphia has posted a top-five net rating behind its two MVP-caliber stars ... and its title price has fallen outside of the top five. What gives?

Sure, Harden hasn't shot the ball well in a new uniform, connecting on 40.2% of his attempts with a 32.6% mark from deep. It's hardly mattered, with fellow superstar Joel Embiid averaging 32.6 points in that stretch to help guide the 76ers to a 16-8 record since the All-Star break - tied for the fifth best in the league. That's the beauty of this partnership: If one star falters, the other takes over, which has been a winning formula for countless NBA champions.

Few teams, if any, have the interior force to slow Embiid and the ability to keep pace with Harden on the perimeter, and Philly has enough complementary shooting to surround its devastating 1-2 punch. There's a chance one of those two gets injured in the postseason, but unless the Sixers beat themselves, it'll take a Herculean effort to knock them out.

Minnesota Timberwolves (+7500)

It's easy to write off the Timberwolves as a long shot, if only because of their inclusion in the play-in tournament. But that undersells just how good Minnesota has been over the last two months - and how dangerous this club can be if it advances in the playoffs.

Since the All-Star break, the T-Wolves rank fourth in net rating (plus-5.7) behind the NBA's third-most efficient offense. What makes this team so dangerous is its high-volume and high-volatility approach: Minnesota leads the NBA in average 3-point attempts (41.3) and makes (14.8) across the entire season, and it also leads all teams in pace (101.47) and points off turnovers (19.8).

The Timberwolves have been especially tenacious on the defensive end since the break, ranking second in steals (9.1) and first in deflections (18.0) to help key the team's up-tempo attack. Credit head coach Chris Finch, who reinvented the defensive identity this year to attack passing lanes and press opposing sides along the perimeter.

This team has three bonafide offensive stars in Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D'Angelo Russell, and its defense has caused headaches for opposing clubs all year long. There's enough talent and balance here to make a run, especially with a juicy first-round matchup against a Grizzlies side that, on paper, is still among the least talented teams in the field. I like Memphis to win that series, but at this price, I'll gladly take a shot on Minnesota continuing its stellar late-season run.

Sell

Brooklyn Nets (+650)

You'll rarely see a team priced as this short of a title contender while also dealing as an underdog to even advance beyond the first round. That's the case with the Nets, who are +115 to beat the Celtics and +650 to win it all. Have fun with that math.

The clearest reason for the discrepancy is the unknown status of Ben Simmons (back), who's apparently angling for a return in Game 4 of the first round. The trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Simmons at full strength would surely be worth the short price should this group advance. But how likely are we to see that - not just in the first round, but at all?

The last time we saw Simmons on the court was in Game 7 of the 76ers' second-round loss to the Hawks. He appeared to have such little faith in his shot that he finished with just four attempts, becoming the scapegoat for his team's playoff collapse. Fair or not, his postseason history cheapens the idea that Simmons unlocks a title ceiling for the Nets that isn't already present without him - which essentially is what you're betting on at this price.

Instead, if you like this team as currently constructed, you're much better off betting Brooklyn to win this series and rolling that money over. Or you can wait until after this series - should the Nets survive - and bet based on Simmons' status. Or, you can avoid this club entirely, which is likely the best bet of all.

Dallas Mavericks (+2500)

Sometimes one meaningless play can alter a team's entire title outlook. That appears to be the case for the Mavericks after star Luka Doncic (calf) limped off the court in garbage time of their regular-season finale.

The team expects Doncic to miss Game 1 of the first round against the Jazz at the very least, and the injury will likely hinder him even if he does return later in the series, given the recovery timeline of a typical calf strain. Dallas' offense simply isn't built to survive without Doncic, who leads the NBA in usage rate (37.4%) and averages nearly twice as many points (28.4) as the team's next-highest scorer (Jalen Brunson, 16.3).

The Mavs were already a shaky title bet thanks to their stagnant ball movement and inconsistent defense. Now, with Doncic on the mend, they're an easy stay-away at this price.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].