Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so loaded that its championship might be the real NBA Finals, a minimum of if all the wagering money putting in on those groups is any indication.


Of the top 7 potential NBA champions that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 live in the West. Miami, at 200-1 odds, 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 manager.


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


The top 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 stated. "But as of now, they're really one of our best results. Like always, we're expecting the Lakers to be a big liability. We're anticipating the Warriors to be up there. We normally take a great deal of Nuggets cash. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be an extremely great team too."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to navigate 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 exact same kind of trends.


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


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


"I think Oklahoma City's clearly the team to beat," Marshall said. "They've got great depth and even with a couple of cutting edge injuries, they can get over them. They're using a bigger target this year. I believe they're going to be much the very same as a year back."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is the preferred 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 three-time MVP. Doncic has actually 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 choose to give the benefit of the doubt on close races to those who have not won the award just recently or at all.


"That's always the important things with awards," Egeland said. "It does not necessarily 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 in 2015."


Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.


"I personally think Jokic ought to be the favorite," Lieberman said. "I believe there's an argument he probably should've won last year, but I do think SGA was deserving of it. They had such a good year, I had no issue with him winning, however I think there's kind of a dominating idea that he won due to the fact that the team's record was so good."


Marshall said 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 especially intriguing to him.


"I believe this is the group that may be ready to take off," Marshall said. "They had a lot of injury issues 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 team to go under. Marshall stated 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 as well as whether this will be his final season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers violated the salary cap regarding an endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.


"I believe the greatest X-factor is the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, because of Kawhi," Marshall stated. "His accessibility, you never understand about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be a diversion? I do not know.


"The Lakers, you can sense 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 simply out-athleted 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 deserves to be the preferred, Marshall also tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not truly sure just how much of an effect Flagg is really going to make," Marshall stated. "I think Dallas is not a threat this year. I just wear ´ t see it with them, and I put on ´ t think Flagg is going to be the superstar everyone thinks."


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 video game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)


Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doni (77) shoots in between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) throughout the 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) during the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)