LA Is Betting Central With Money On The Lakers And Clippers As The
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Lakers frequently draw in large wagering interest anyway, but the controversial midseason trade that landed Luka Doncic from Dallas has people clearing their checking account to put money on Los Angeles.
And the cash, mostly fueled by casual gamblers, is still coming.
BetMGM trading manager Halvor Egeland said 99% of the bets on the Lakers' opening-round NBA playoffs series against Minnesota is on LA. That series opens Saturday in Los Angeles.
"It's basically all Lakers cash coming in up until now in the series," Egeland stated. "I think they opened -160 (favorites), and we have actually taken some bigger bets on it. There's excitement around the Lakers for sure, but it's unexpected how much we have actually taken on the Lakers."
LeBron James and the Lakers now are -200 favorites at BetMGM to beat the Timberwolves.
Caesars Sportsbook likewise has actually been hit hard with bets on the Lakers, who are drawing strong money to win the Western Conference and NBA Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (77) and LeBron James, center, right, hug and celebrate late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
"It's been sort of a running theme for a few months now," Caesars pro basketball lead trader David Lieberman said.
They went from about 40-1 at Caesars to win the championship before the Doncic trade to now 10-1.
The Lakers remain Southern California's glamour group, however the Clippers might be playing at a greater level. Bettors certainly are coming around on them.
The Clippers went from underdogs to favorites at BetMGM and Caesars in their first-round series versus Denver despite the fact that the Nuggets have home-court benefit.
"I actually believe the Clippers might come out of the West," CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said. "Nobody's talking about them. ... but I think they might win everything, I really do. It's a fantastic veteran mix. They're not too old. They have actually got guys who have actually been around and won titles."
The oft-injured Kawhi Leonard lastly looks like the gamer who won championships in San Antonio and .
"Personally, it does concern Kawhi's health," Egeland stated. "Right now, he's been great, however history repeats itself regularly - Kawhi Leonard gets hurt and James Harden no-shows in some video games in the playoffs. There does appear to be a belief in (Leonard), but we'll see what happens."
Boston may be headed into the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland, however the Celtics are preferred at both sportsbooks to make the NBA Finals.
The Celtics are attempting to end up being the NBA's very first repeat champion since 2018 when Golden State won its third title in four years.
They are +200 at BetMGM win the title, simply behind Oklahoma City at +185. The numbers are similar at Caesars - +200 for the Celtics to +170 for the Thunder.
"Boston was playing quite well down the stretch," Marshall stated. "They ´ d probably be preferred over (East front runner) Cleveland even though they wouldn ´ t have home court."There will be lots of focus on Jaylen Brown. The MVP of in 2015's NBA Finals has received knee injections and hasn't played much over the past month.
"On paper, I believe the Celtics have a quite huge edge (in the East) if they ´ re healthy," Lieberman stated. "But I seem like they probably won ´ t be totally healthy."
A Golden State champion would be bad news for the sportsbooks after all the cash that has actually can be found in on the Warriors since they obtained Jimmy Butler. He assisted spark a late-season run before the Warriors lost three of their last five regular-season video games.
That required the Warriors into the Play-In Tournament, and they beat Memphis 121-116 on Tuesday night to secure the seventh seed.
"I am a little bit skeptical they can make a run all the method through the West," Lieberman said. "A lot of their gamers are quite old and it's difficult to see them surviving the gauntlet. On talent alone, you have (Steph) Curry and Butler playing at a high level and the experience they have going up versus more youthful groups in Houston and OKC (Oklahoma City). I won't count them out."
Top-seeded Oklahoma City is almost being neglected by the gamblers, however much of that has to do with the cost point instead of the team youth and lack of experience playing in the playoffs.
The Thunder, led by MVP preferred Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are heavy favorites to at least make the NBA Finals. Many gamblers are finding greater value with other groups in what is a deep Western Conference.
"I don't believe that they're questioning the Thunder," Egeland said. "I believe it's more that you don't desire to put a bet on a team with that except chances."
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) get looked at by the medics throughout 2nd half of an NBA basketball video game versus theSacramento Kings, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, right, talks with previous colleague, Washington Wizards' Marcus Smart, following an NBA basketball video game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III brings the ball up the court versus the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball video game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)