Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so crammed that its championship may be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the betting money gathering on those groups is any indicator.


Of the top seven prospective NBA champions that would be bad monetary news for BetMGM Sportsbook, six live in the West. Miami, at 200-1 odds, is the only Eastern Conference group 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 strategy supervisor.


Western Conference groups have actually won three of the past four championships, 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 teams Cleveland (+750) and New York (9-1) are next.


"Obviously, the Knicks, if they make a big run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're actually one of our finest outcomes. Like constantly, we're anticipating the Lakers to be a huge 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 great group too."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries 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) searches 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 kind of trends.


"The Nuggets, undoubtedly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," stated David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are quite constantly 2 of our biggest liabilities. Just popular teams for people to bank on."


CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he expects this NBA season to end like last season.


"I think Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall stated. "They have actually got great depth and even with a number of front line injuries, they can overcome them. They're using a larger target this year. I think they're going to be similar as a year back."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the favorite at BetMGM at +260 to record the award once 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, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, especially with LeBron James missing out on the very first part of the season due to the fact that of sciatica.


Voters tend to choose to offer the advantage of the doubt on close races to those who have not won the award just recently or at all.


"That's always the thing with awards," Egeland said. "It does not always go to who had the very best season. You need to price it as if you're going for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I think he needs to've won last year."


Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.


"I personally think Jokic ought to be the preferred," Lieberman stated. "I believe there's an argument he probably must've won in 2015, but I do think SGA was deserving of it. They had such an excellent year, I had no concern with him winning, but I think there's kind of a prevailing thought that he won due to the fact that the team'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 discuss the win totals.


The Magic were particularly intriguing to him.


"I think this is the team that may be prepared to take off," Marshall stated. "They had a lot 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 said health concerns were a problem for all three clubs.


The Lakers are 16-1 to win the championship and the crosstown Clippers are at 18-1.


Both teams face their share of concerns.


For the Lakers, it James' health in addition to whether this will be his last season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers violated the income cap regarding a recommendation deal for Kawhi Leonard.


"I think the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, a lot more than the Lakers, since of Kawhi," Marshall stated. "His availability, you never ever learn about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be a diversion? I don't understand.


"The Lakers, you can notice modification coming. I'm practically 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) in 2015. They just them everywhere."


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 is worthy of to be the preferred, Marshall also tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not really sure how much of an effect Flagg is really going to make," Marshall said. "I think Dallas is not a threat this year. I just wear ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ 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) searches during 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 video 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 very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)