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, at least if all the betting cash pouring in on those groups is any indicator.


Of the leading seven prospective NBA champions that would be bad financial news for BetMGM Sportsbook, six live in the West. Miami, at 200-1 chances, is the lone Eastern Conference team 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 method manager.


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


The top 2 favorites at BetMGM are protecting champ Oklahoma City (+240) and 2023 champ Denver (+550 ). Eastern Conference groups 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 money. We're live in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be a great team as well."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to get around 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) searches 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 exact same type of patterns.


"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 2 of our biggest liabilities. Just popular groups for individuals to bank on."


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


"I believe Oklahoma City's plainly the group to beat," Marshall said. "They've got good depth and even with a number of cutting edge injuries, they can get over them. They're using a bigger target this year. I believe they're going to be similar as a year back."


The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ruling MVP and is the preferred at BetMGM at +260 to the award 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 received the award, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, specifically with LeBron James missing out on the 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 recently or at all.


"That's constantly the thing with awards," Egeland stated. "It does not necessarily go to who had the best season. You need to price it as if you're choosing 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 think Jokic needs to be the preferred," Lieberman said. "I believe there's an argument he most likely ought to've won in 2015, however I do believe SGA was deserving of it. They had such a good year, I had no issue with him winning, but I think there's sort of a prevailing thought 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 discuss the win totals.


The Magic were particularly intriguing to him.


"I think this is the team that may be ready to remove," Marshall said. "They had a lot 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 stated health issues were a concern 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 final season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers violated the wage cap relating to a recommendation offer for Kawhi Leonard.


"I think the most significant X-factor is the Clippers, even 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 sense modification coming. I'm almost encouraged this is it for LeBron. Maybe Luka is primed for an MVP season, however that was no fluke when Minnesota beat them (in the playoffs) last year. They simply out-athleted 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 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 really sure just how much of an effect Flagg is actually going to make," Marshall said. "I think Dallas is not a threat this year. I just put on ´ t see it with them, and I wear ´ t believe 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) 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 in between Phoenix Suns Isaiah Livers and and Koby Brea (14) during 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) throughout the very first half of a preseason NBA basketball video game Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)