Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so packed that its championship may be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the betting cash gathering on those teams 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 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," stated Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading technique supervisor.
Western Conference teams have won 3 of the previous 4 champions, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The leading two favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding champ Oklahoma City (+240) and 2023 champ Denver (+550 ). Eastern Conference groups Cleveland (+750) and New York City (9-1) are next.
"Obviously, the Knicks, if they make a big run, our liability grows," Egeland stated. "But currently, they're actually among our finest outcomes. Like always, we're expecting the Lakers to be a big liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We normally take a great deal of Nuggets money. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be an excellent group as well."
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to navigate Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, second 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 . (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that exact same kind of patterns.
"The Nuggets, obviously 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 bank on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall stated he expects this NBA season to end like last season.
"I believe Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall stated. "They've got good depth and even with a number 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 ago."
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the preferred 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 never ever gotten the award, however he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, especially with LeBron James missing the very first part of the season because of sciatica.
Voters tend to choose to provide the advantage 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 does not necessarily go to who had the best season. You have to price it as if you're choosing who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I believe he should've won in 2015."
Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.
"I personally think Jokic should be the favorite," Lieberman said. "I think there's an argument he most likely must've won last year, however I do think SGA was deserving of it. They had such a good year, I had no issue with him winning, but I think there's kind of a prevailing idea that he won because 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 review the win overalls.
The Magic were particularly appealing to him.
"I believe this is the team that might be ready to take off," Marshall stated. "They had a lot of injury issues in 2015. ... 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 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 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 breached the wage cap concerning an endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.
"I believe the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, due to the fact that of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His availability, you never know about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be an interruption? I don't know.
"The Lakers, you can pick up modification coming. I'm almost convinced 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 just out-athleted them all over."
Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the top choice 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 how much of an impact Flagg is truly going to make," Marshall stated. "I think Dallas is not a hazard this year. I just wear ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t believe Flagg is going to be the super star everybody believes."
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) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)