Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so loaded that its championship may be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the betting cash pouring 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 odds, 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," said Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading method supervisor.


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


The leading two 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 big run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're really one of 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 generally take a lot of Nuggets cash. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I think they're going to be a very good team also."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to get around Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, 2nd from right, as he trails behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) searches during the 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," said David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are quite constantly 2 of our biggest liabilities. Just popular teams for individuals to bet on."


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


"I believe Oklahoma City's clearly the team to beat," Marshall said. "They have actually got great depth and even with a number of cutting edge injuries, they can overcome them. They're wearing a larger target this year. I believe they're going to be much the exact same as a year earlier."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the preferred 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 never ever received the award, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, specifically with LeBron James missing the very first part of the season since of sciatica.


Voters tend to prefer to give the benefit of the doubt on close races to those who haven't won the award just recently or at all.


"That's always the important things with awards," Egeland said. "It doesn't always go to who had the very best 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 think he ought to've won last year."


Jokic is the preferred at Caesars.


"I personally think Jokic should be the preferred," Lieberman stated. "I think there's an argument he most likely should've won in 2015, but I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such an excellent year, I had no concern with him winning, but I think there's type of a prevailing thought 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 go over the .


The Magic were particularly intriguing to him.


"I believe this is the team that might be all set to remove," 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), expecting those group to go under. Marshall stated 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 concerns.


For the Lakers, it James' health as well as whether this will be his last season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers breached the salary cap regarding a recommendation offer for Kawhi Leonard.


"I think the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, much more than the Lakers, because of Kawhi," Marshall said. "His accessibility, you never ever learn about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's contract, will that be a distraction? I don't understand.


"The Lakers, you can notice change coming. I'm nearly convinced 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 simply out-athleted them everywhere."


Dallas ´ Cooper Flagg, the leading 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 should have to be the preferred, Marshall likewise tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not actually sure how much of an effect Flagg is truly going to make," Marshall stated. "I think Dallas is not a threat this year. I simply put on ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ 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 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 between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) throughout 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 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)