Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so packed that its championship might be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the wagering cash gathering on those teams is any indication.
Of the leading seven potential NBA champions that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, six reside in the West. Miami, at 200-1 chances, is the only Eastern Conference team that the book would not be pleased 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 supervisor.
Western Conference teams have won 3 of the past 4 championships, with Boston in 2024 the exception.
The top 2 favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding champion 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 huge run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're in fact one of our best results. Like constantly, we're expecting the Lakers to be a big liability. We're anticipating the Warriors to be up there. We usually take a great deal of Nuggets money. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be a really great team also."
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries to get around Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, second from right, as he trails behind Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) looks on during the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing that same type of trends.
"The Nuggets, undoubtedly 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 bank on."
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he expects this NBA season to end like last season.
"I believe Oklahoma City's plainly the group to beat," Marshall stated. "They have actually got excellent depth and even with a couple of front line injuries, they can overcome them. They're wearing a larger target this year. I believe they're going to be similar as a year earlier."
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 company.
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, especially with LeBron James missing the very first part of the season because of sciatica.
Voters tend to prefer to offer the advantage of the doubt on close races to those who haven't won the award recently or at all.
"That's constantly the important things with awards," Egeland stated. "It doesn't necessarily 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 believe he should've won last year."
Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.
"I personally believe Jokic ought to be the preferred," Lieberman said. "I think there's an argument he probably must've won last year, however I do think SGA was deserving of it. They had such a great year, I had no issue with him winning, but I believe there's sort of a prevailing idea that he won since the group's record was so excellent."
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 especially intriguing to him.
"I believe this is the group that might be all set to take off," Marshall stated. "They had a great deal 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), anticipating those group to go under. Marshall said health concerns were a problem for all three clubs.
The Lakers are 16-1 to win the champion 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 final season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers broke the wage cap concerning a recommendation deal for Kawhi Leonard.
"I think the biggest X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, because of Kawhi," Marshall stated. "His accessibility, you never understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be an interruption? I don't know.
"The Lakers, you can sense change coming. I'm nearly convinced this is it for LeBron. Maybe Luka is primed for an MVP season, however 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 pick in this year ´ s draft, is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year. BetMGM even notes 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 preferred, Marshall also tempered expectations.
"I ´ m not really sure how much of an impact Flagg is really going to make," Marshall stated. "I think Dallas is not a risk this year. I just don ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t believe Flagg is going to be the super star everyone believes."
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Joki (15) is fouled by Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vuevi (9) searches 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 in 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 versus 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)