When we last discussed the odds to win the 2023 NBA Finals, Denver was the +300 ‘chalk’ and Philadelphia was right behind it with +325 odds.

Well, things have changed in the last 24 hours.

Facing elimination on the road in Game 6 last night, Boston outscored Philadelphia 24-13 in the fourth quarter to capture a 95-86 win as a 2.5-point favorite. Marcus Smart led the way with 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

With the victory, most books have installed the Celtics as seven-point home favorites for Sunday’s Game 7. Also, the Westgate SuperBook has them as +160 ‘chalk’ to win it all.

Denver has the next-shortest odds at +225. The Nuggets raced out to a 30-point halftime lead by hanging 81 on the Suns. From there, they coasted to a 125-100 win at Phoenix in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals. Nikola Jokic dominated with 32 points, 12 assists (compared to only two turnovers), 10 rebounds, three steal and one blocked shot.

With Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton out with injuries, Monty Williams’s team got run of its own gym in a second-round elimination game for a second straight season. Look for the Suns to try and move Paul and Ayton in trades over the summer, and you have to wonder if Williams’s job could be in jeopardy.

Whatever the case, it’s clear that mortgaging a franchise’s future to acquire Kevin Durant isn’t the best idea. Phoenix didn’t learn anything from Brooklyn’s massive failure, and now it’s going to pay for it in both the short and long term.

Los Angeles has the next-shortest odds (+450) behind Denver. The Lakers can book a date with the Nuggets in the West finals if they can close out Golden St. in tonight’s Game 6. Darvin Ham’s club is a three-point home favorite.

The Warriors might be without Andrew Wiggins, who is listed as ‘questionable’ with a left costal cartilage fracture (ribcage area). I expect him to play but for those that have had rib injuries, you know that they’re extremely painful and he won’t be at 100 percent.

The 76ers have seen their future number shifted to +1000 (or 10/1). The Warriors also have 10/1 odds, followed by Miami (20/1) and New York (100/1).

I’m not against getting a small taste of the Heat at 20/1. I’m all over Miami tonight, but I got in at -4.5 early Thursday. Most books now have the Heat favored by six or 6.5.