Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so crammed that its championship might be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the wagering money in on those teams is any sign.
Of the leading 7 prospective NBA champs that would be bad monetary 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 pleased 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 method manager.
Western Conference teams have actually won three of the previous four championships, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The top 2 favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding 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 in fact one of our finest outcomes. Like constantly, we're expecting the Lakers to be a huge liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We normally take a lot of Nuggets money. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be an excellent group too."
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries to get around Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, second 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 very same kind of patterns.
"The Nuggets, clearly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," said David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are pretty always two of our most significant liabilities. Just popular teams for individuals to wager on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall stated he expects this NBA season to end like last season.
"I think Oklahoma City's clearly the team to beat," Marshall stated. "They have actually got great depth and even with a number of front line injuries, they can get over them. They're wearing a larger target this year. I think they're going to be much the exact same as a year back."
The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the preferred at BetMGM at +260 to capture 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, however he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, particularly with LeBron James missing the first part of the season due to the fact that of sciatica.
Voters tend to prefer to provide the advantage of the doubt on close races to those who haven't won the award recently or at all.
"That's constantly the thing with awards," Egeland said. "It does not necessarily go to who had the finest season. You have to price it as if you're opting for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I think he needs to've won in 2015."
Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.
"I personally believe Jokic needs to be the favorite," Lieberman stated. "I think there's an argument he probably should've won last year, however I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such a great year, I had no concern with him winning, however I think there's kind of a dominating idea that he won since 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 especially appealing to him.
"I think this is the group that might be prepared to remove," Marshall stated. "They had a great deal of injury problems 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), anticipating those team to go under. Marshall said health concerns were an issue for all 3 clubs.
The Lakers are 16-1 to win the champion and the crosstown Clippers are at 18-1.
Both groups face their share of concerns.
For the Lakers, it James' health as well as whether this will be his last season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers breached the income cap relating to an endorsement offer for Kawhi Leonard.
"I think the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, much more than the Lakers, due to the fact that of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His accessibility, you never ever understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be a distraction? I don't know.
"The Lakers, you can sense modification coming. I'm nearly 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) last year. They just out-athleted them all over."
Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading 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 actually sure just how much of an impact Flagg is really going to make," Marshall stated. "I think Dallas is not a hazard this year. I just don ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ t believe Flagg is going to be the super star 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 during 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 between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives versus 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)