Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so packed that its champion may be the genuine NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the betting cash pouring in on those groups is any sign.
Of the top seven possible NBA champions that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, six reside in the West. Miami, at 200-1 odds, is the only Eastern Conference group that the book would not be pleased see hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"Seemingly, we're just going to be cheering for whoever comes out of the East," stated Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading method supervisor.
Western Conference groups have won three of the previous 4 championships, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The leading 2 favorites at BetMGM are defending champ Oklahoma City (+240) and 2023 champ Denver (+550 ). Eastern Conference teams Cleveland (+750) and New York City (9-1) are next.
"Obviously, the Knicks, if they make a big run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But as of now, they're really among our finest outcomes. Like constantly, we're anticipating the Lakers to be a big liability. We're anticipating the Warriors to be up there. We normally take a lot of Nuggets cash. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be a great team as well."
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries to navigate 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 video game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that very same kind of trends.
"The Nuggets, undoubtedly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," said David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are pretty constantly 2 of our greatest liabilities. Just popular groups for individuals to bank on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he expects this NBA season to end like last season.
"I think Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall said. "They have actually got good depth and even with a number of cutting edge injuries, they can get over them. They're wearing a larger target this year. I believe they're going to be much the same as a year earlier."
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the preferred at BetMGM at +260 to capture the award 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 received 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 choose to give the advantage of the doubt on close races to those who have not won the award recently or at all.
"That's constantly the thing with awards," Egeland said. "It doesn't necessarily go to who had the very best season. You have to price it as if you're going for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I think he needs to've won last year."
Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.
"I personally think Jokic needs to be the favorite," Lieberman said. "I think there's an argument he most likely need to've won in 2015, however I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such a good year, I had no issue with him winning, however I think there's kind of a dominating idea that he won because the team's record was so great."
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 especially appealing to him.
"I think this is the team that may be ready to remove," Marshall stated. "They had a lot of injury problems 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), anticipating those team to go under. Marshall stated health concerns were an issue for all three clubs.
The Lakers are 16-1 to win the championship and the crosstown Clippers are at 18-1.
Both teams face their share of concerns.
For the Lakers, it James' health as well as whether this will be his last season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers broke the income cap relating to a recommendation offer for Kawhi Leonard.
"I believe the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, a lot more than the Lakers, because of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His availability, you never understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be a distraction? I do not know.
"The Lakers, you can notice modification coming. I'm almost encouraged this is it for LeBron. Maybe Luka is primed for an MVP season, but that was no fluke when Minnesota beat them (in the playoffs) last year. They just out-athleted them everywhere."
Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading choice 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 should have to be the preferred, Marshall likewise tempered expectations.
"I ´ m not actually sure just how much of an impact Flagg is actually going to make," Marshall said. "I think Dallas is not a risk this year. I simply put on ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t believe Flagg is going to be the superstar everybody believes."
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Joki (15) is fouled by Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vuevi (9) searches throughout the very 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 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 very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)