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 money gathering on those teams is any indicator.
Of the leading seven prospective NBA champions that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 live in the West. Miami, at 200-1 odds, is the only Eastern Conference team that the book would not be delighted 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 method supervisor.
Western Conference teams have won three of the previous four champions, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The top two favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding 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 big run, our liability grows," Egeland stated. "But currently, they're really among our best outcomes. Like always, we're anticipating the Lakers to be a big liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We typically take a great deal of Nuggets cash. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be an excellent 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 routes 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 Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that same type of trends.
"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 2 of our biggest liabilities. Just popular teams for people to wager on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall stated he anticipates this NBA season to end like last season.
"I believe Oklahoma City's plainly the group to beat," Marshall stated. "They've got excellent 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 exact same as a year earlier."
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the preferred at BetMGM at +260 to record the award once again.
But, he has .
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 ever gotten the award, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, especially with LeBron James missing out on the first part of the season because of sciatica.
Voters tend to prefer to give the benefit of the doubt on close races to those who haven't won the award recently or at all.
"That's always the thing with awards," Egeland said. "It does not always go to who had the finest season. You need to price it as if you're opting for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I think he ought to've won last year."
Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.
"I personally think Jokic ought to be the preferred," Lieberman said. "I think there's an argument he most likely should've won in 2015, but I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such a good year, I had no concern with him winning, however I believe there's sort of a prevailing thought that he won because the group'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 discuss the win totals.
The Magic were particularly appealing to him.
"I believe this is the team that might be all set to remove," Marshall stated. "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 group to go under. Marshall stated health concerns were an issue for all three 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 in addition to whether this will be his final season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers broke the salary cap regarding an endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.
"I think the biggest X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, due to the fact that of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His availability, you never ever understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be an interruption? I do not understand.
"The Lakers, you can pick up change 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 simply 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 area 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 actually sure just how much of an effect Flagg is truly going to make," Marshall stated. "I believe Dallas is not a hazard this year. I simply wear ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t think 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) 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) 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) throughout the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)