Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so loaded that its champion may be the genuine NBA Finals, at least if all the betting money putting in on those groups is any indication.


Of the top seven potential 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 happy see hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy.


"Seemingly, we're just going to be cheering for whoever comes out of the East," stated Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading strategy supervisor.


Western Conference teams have actually won 3 of the past 4 championships, with Boston in 2024 the exception.


The leading 2 favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding champ 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 stated. "But as of now, they're really one of our finest results. Like always, we're anticipating the Lakers to be a big liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We generally take a great deal of Nuggets money. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be an excellent team too."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to navigate Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, 2nd from right, as he tracks behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) looks on throughout the very 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 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 pretty constantly two of our biggest 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 think Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall stated. "They've got excellent depth and even with a number of cutting edge injuries, they can overcome them. They're wearing a bigger target this year. I believe they're going to be similar as a year earlier."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the favorite at BetMGM at +260 to catch the award once 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 . Doncic has never ever received the award, however he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, particularly with LeBron James missing the first part of the season because 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 constantly the important things with awards," Egeland said. "It doesn't 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 believe he should've won last year."


Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.


"I personally believe Jokic ought to be the favorite," Lieberman said. "I think 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 concern with him winning, but I believe there's type of a prevailing idea that he won because 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 especially appealing to him.


"I believe this is the team that might be all set to take off," Marshall said. "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 group to go under. Marshall stated health concerns were a concern 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 questions.


For the Lakers, it James' health along with whether this will be his last season. The NBA is investigating whether the Clippers violated the salary cap concerning a recommendation offer for Kawhi Leonard.


"I believe the most significant X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, due to the fact that of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His accessibility, you never ever know about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be an interruption? I don't understand.


"The Lakers, you can notice change 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 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 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 also tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not actually sure how much of an impact Flagg is actually going to make," Marshall stated. "I believe Dallas is not a risk this year. I simply don ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t think Flagg is going to be the super star 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) 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 versus Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) throughout the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)