Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so packed that its championship may be the genuine NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the wagering cash gathering on those teams is any sign.


Of the top 7 possible NBA champs that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 live in the West. Miami, at 200-1 odds, is the lone Eastern Conference group that the book would not be pleased see hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy.


"Seemingly, we're simply going to be cheering for whoever comes out of the East," stated Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading technique supervisor.


Western Conference groups have actually won three of the past 4 championships, with Boston in 2024 the exception.


The leading two favorites at BetMGM are defending champion Oklahoma City (+240) and 2023 champ Denver (+550 ). Eastern Conference groups 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 one of our best results. Like constantly, we're expecting the Lakers to be a big liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We generally take a lot of Nuggets cash. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be a great team also."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries to navigate Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, second from right, as he trails behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) searches throughout the first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)


Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that same kind of patterns.


"The Nuggets, certainly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," said David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are pretty always two of our most significant liabilities. Just popular teams for people to bank on."


CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he anticipates this NBA season to end like last season.


"I think Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall said. "They have actually got great depth and even with a couple of cutting edge injuries, they can get over them. They're using a bigger target this year. I believe they're going to be similar as a year ago."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the preferred 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 gotten the award, however he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, specifically with LeBron James missing out on the very first part of the season due to the fact that of sciatica.


Voters tend to prefer to offer the benefit of the doubt on close races to those who have not won the award recently or at all.


"That's always the important things 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 going for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I think he should've won last year."


Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.


"I personally think Jokic must be the preferred," Lieberman said. "I believe there's an argument he most likely must've won last year, but I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such a great year, I had no issue with him winning, but I believe there's kind of a dominating idea that he won because the team's record was so good."


Marshall stated he liked Orlando (50 1/2), Indiana (37 1/2), Miami (37 1/2) and Charlotte (26 1/2) to review the win totals.


The Magic were particularly intriguing to him.


"I believe this is the team that may be prepared to remove," Marshall said. "They had a great deal 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 team to go under. Marshall said health concerns were a problem for all 3 clubs.


The Lakers are 16-1 to win the champion and the crosstown Clippers are at 18-1.


Both groups face their share of questions.


For the Lakers, it James' health along with whether this will be his final season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers violated the wage cap concerning a recommendation offer for Kawhi Leonard.


"I think the biggest X-factor is the Clippers, much more than the Lakers, because of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His availability, you never ever know about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be a distraction? I do not know.


"The Lakers, you can pick up modification coming. I'm practically persuaded 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) in 2015. They simply out-athleted them everywhere."


Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the top pick in this year ´ s draft, is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year. BetMGM even lists 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 should have to be the favorite, Marshall likewise tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not really sure how much of an is truly going to make," Marshall said. "I think Dallas is not a hazard this year. I simply don ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ t think Flagg is going to be the super star 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 very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video 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 first half of an NBA basketball video 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)