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 betting cash gathering on those groups is any sign.


Of the top seven prospective NBA champions that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 reside in the West. Miami, at 200-1 chances, is the lone Eastern Conference team that the book would not be happy see hold up the Larry O'Brien Trophy.


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


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


The leading 2 favorites at BetMGM are safeguarding champion 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 among our best outcomes. Like always, we're expecting the Lakers to be a huge liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We typically take a lot of Nuggets money. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be a really great team too."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) tries 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) searches during 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 type of patterns.


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


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


"I believe Oklahoma City's plainly the group to beat," Marshall said. "They have actually got good depth and even with a number of front line injuries, they can overcome them. They're wearing a bigger target this year. I think they're going to be similar as a year ago."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the at BetMGM at +260 to record 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 ever received the award, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, especially with LeBron James missing the first part of the season because of sciatica.


Voters tend to choose to give 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 does not necessarily go to who had the finest season. You have to price it as if you're going for who's going to be voting. That's why I like Jokic. I think he ought to've won last year."


Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.


"I personally think Jokic needs 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 a great year, I had no problem with him winning, however I think there's sort of a dominating idea that he won since 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 interesting to him.


"I think this is the group that might be prepared to remove," 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 team to go under. Marshall said health issues were an issue 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 last season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers broke the salary cap relating to an endorsement offer for Kawhi Leonard.


"I believe the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, due to the fact that of Kawhi," Marshall stated. "His schedule, you never ever understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be an interruption? I do not 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) last year. They simply out-athleted them all over."


Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading 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 favorite, Marshall likewise tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not actually sure just how much of an effect Flagg is truly going to make," Marshall stated. "I believe Dallas is not a risk this year. I just put on ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ t think Flagg is going to be the superstar 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 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) during 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 very first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)