Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so crammed that its championship may be the genuine NBA Finals, at least if all the wagering cash pouring in on those teams is any sign.


Of the top 7 prospective NBA champs that would be bad monetary news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 live 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 just going to be cheering for whoever comes out of the East," said Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading technique manager.


Western Conference groups have won three of the past four champions, with Boston in 2024 the exception.


The top two favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding champ 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 stated. "But currently, they're actually one of our finest outcomes. Like always, we're expecting 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 reside in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be a really good group as well."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts 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) 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 exact same kind of patterns.


"The Nuggets, clearly 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 people to wager on."


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


"I think Oklahoma City's clearly the group to beat," Marshall said. "They have actually got excellent depth and even with a number of cutting edge injuries, they can overcome them. They're using a bigger 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 favorite at BetMGM at +260 to catch the award again.


But, he has business.


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, but 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 offer the of the doubt on close races to those who haven't won the award just recently or at all.


"That's always the thing with awards," Egeland said. "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 believe he ought to've won last year."


Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.


"I personally believe Jokic should be the preferred," Lieberman stated. "I believe there's an argument he probably must've won last year, but I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such an excellent year, I had no concern with him winning, however I believe there's type of a dominating thought that he won since the team's record was so good."


Marshall said 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 interesting to him.


"I believe this is the group that might be all set to take off," Marshall said. "They had a great deal 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 3 clubs.


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


Both teams face their share of questions.


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


"I believe the biggest X-factor is the Clippers, much more than the Lakers, since of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His availability, you never ever understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be a distraction? I don't understand.


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


Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading 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 is worthy of to be the favorite, Marshall likewise tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not really sure just how much of an impact Flagg is really going to make," Marshall stated. "I believe Dallas is not a threat this year. I simply wear ´ t see it with them, and I don ´ t believe Flagg is going to be the superstar everyone 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 between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) throughout 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) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)