Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so loaded that its championship might be the genuine NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the betting cash gathering on those teams is any sign.


Of the leading seven possible NBA champs that would be bad monetary news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 reside in the West. Miami, at 200-1 chances, is the lone 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 technique supervisor.


Western Conference groups have actually won 3 of the previous four champions, with Boston in 2024 the exception.


The leading 2 favorites at BetMGM are protecting 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 huge run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're actually one of our best results. Like constantly, we're expecting the Lakers to be a big liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We usually take a lot of Nuggets cash. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be a very excellent group too."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to navigate Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, second from right, as he trails behind Oklahoma City 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 very same type of patterns.


"The Nuggets, certainly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," said David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are quite always two of our most significant liabilities. Just popular groups for individuals to wager on."


CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall stated he anticipates this NBA season to end like last season.


"I think Oklahoma City's clearly the group to beat," Marshall stated. "They have actually got good depth and even with a couple of front line 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 back."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the favorite at BetMGM at +260 to catch 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 never gotten the award, however he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, especially with LeBron James missing out on the very first part of the season because of sciatica.


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


"That's constantly the thing with awards," Egeland stated. "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 believe he ought to've won in 2015."


Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.


"I personally believe Jokic ought to be the favorite," Lieberman said. "I believe there's an argument he probably should've won in 2015, but I do think SGA was deserving of it. They had such an excellent year, I had no issue with him winning, however I think there's type of a prevailing idea 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 review the win totals.


The Magic were particularly appealing to him.


"I think this is the team that might be ready to take off," 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), expecting those team 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 groups face their share of concerns.


For the Lakers, it James' health as well as whether this will be his final season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers breached the wage cap relating to an endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.


"I believe the biggest X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, since of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His availability, you never ever learn about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be a diversion? I do not know.


"The Lakers, you can pick up modification coming. I'm nearly 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 them everywhere."


Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the top choice 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 effect Flagg is truly going to make," Marshall said. "I believe Dallas is not a risk this year. I just don ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t think 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) 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) throughout 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) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)