Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so crammed that its champion might be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the betting cash gathering on those groups is any sign.
Of the top 7 possible NBA champions that would be news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 reside in the West. Miami, at 200-1 chances, is the lone Eastern Conference team that the book would not be happy see hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"Seemingly, we're simply going to be cheering for whoever comes out of the East," said Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading strategy supervisor.
Western Conference groups have won 3 of the past four champions, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The top 2 favorites at BetMGM are defending champion Oklahoma City (+240) and 2023 champ Denver (+550 ). Eastern Conference teams Cleveland (+750) and New York (9-1) are next.
"Obviously, the Knicks, if they make a huge run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're actually among our finest outcomes. Like always, we're anticipating the Lakers to be a huge liability. We're anticipating the Warriors to be up there. We normally take a lot of Nuggets cash. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be an excellent group also."
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries to get around Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, 2nd from right, as he tracks behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) looks on throughout the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that same kind of trends.
"The Nuggets, certainly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," stated David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are quite always two of our most significant liabilities. Just popular groups for individuals to bet on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he anticipates this NBA season to end like last season.
"I believe Oklahoma City's clearly the group to beat," Marshall stated. "They've got excellent depth and even with a couple of cutting edge injuries, they can overcome them. They're wearing a larger target this year. I think they're going to be similar as a year back."
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the favorite at BetMGM at +260 to record the award once again.
But, he has company.
Denver's Nikola Jokic and the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic are next at each 3-1. Jokic is a three-time MVP. Doncic has actually never ever received the award, however he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, specifically with LeBron James missing the first part of the season since of sciatica.
Voters tend to prefer to provide the benefit of the doubt on close races to those who haven't won the award recently or at all.
"That's constantly the thing with awards," Egeland stated. "It doesn't always go to who had the very best season. You need to price it as if you're opting for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I believe he should've won last year."
Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.
"I personally believe Jokic needs to be the favorite," Lieberman stated. "I believe there's an argument he probably ought to've won last year, however I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such an excellent year, I had no problem with him winning, however I believe there's sort of a prevailing thought that he won due to the fact that the group's record was so great."
Marshall stated he liked Orlando (50 1/2), Indiana (37 1/2), Miami (37 1/2) and Charlotte (26 1/2) to go over the win overalls.
The Magic were especially intriguing to him.
"I think this is the team that may be all set to take off," Marshall said. "They had a lot of injury issues last year. ... They still made the playoffs."
He was more bearish on Boston (41 1/2), Philadelphia (42 1/2) and Memphis (39 1/2), expecting those group to go under. Marshall said health issues were a concern for all three clubs.
The Lakers are 16-1 to win the championship and the crosstown Clippers are at 18-1.
Both groups face their share of concerns.
For the Lakers, it James' health in addition to whether this will be his last season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers broke the salary cap concerning an endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.
"I think the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, a lot more than the Lakers, because of Kawhi," Marshall stated. "His schedule, you never understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be a diversion? I do not know.
"The Lakers, you can sense change coming. I'm nearly encouraged this is it for LeBron. Maybe Luka is primed for an MVP season, however that was no fluke when Minnesota beat them (in the playoffs) last year. They simply out-athleted them all over."
Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading pick in this year ´ s draft, is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year. BetMGM even notes him in minus territory at -225.
The closest are Utah ´ s Ace Bailey and Philadelphia ´ s V.J. Edgecombe, each at 10-1.
While acknowledging Flagg is worthy of to be the preferred, Marshall also tempered expectations.
"I ´ m not really sure just how much of an impact Flagg is actually going to make," Marshall said. "I believe Dallas is not a danger this year. I just put on ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ t think Flagg is going to be the superstar everybody thinks."
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Joki (15) is fouled by Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vuevi (9) looks on throughout the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doni (77) shoots in between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) during the very first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives against Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) throughout the first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)