Western Conference Teams Dominate NBA Championship Betting With

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Western Conference is so crammed that its championship may be the real NBA Finals, at least if all the wagering money pouring in on those groups is any indicator.


Of the leading 7 potential NBA champs that would be bad monetary news for BetMGM Sportsbook, 6 live in the West. Miami, at 200-1 chances, is the only Eastern Conference group that the book would not be pleased 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 strategy manager.


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


The leading 2 favorites at BetMGM are defending 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 huge run, our liability grows," Egeland said. "But currently, they're really among our finest results. Like always, we're expecting the Lakers to be a big liability. We're expecting the Warriors to be up there. We typically take a lot of Nuggets money. We're reside in Colorado, and personally, I believe they're going to be a really great group too."


Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Kevin Porter Jr. (7) attempts to navigate 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) looks on 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, certainly with their offseason, they took some heavy action early," said David Lieberman, Caesars' NBA sports lead. "The Warriors and Lakers are pretty always 2 of our biggest liabilities. Just popular teams for individuals to bet on."


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


"I believe Oklahoma City's plainly the team to beat," Marshall said. "They have actually got good depth and even with a number of cutting edge injuries, they can get over them. They're wearing a bigger target this year. I think they're going to be much the same as a year ago."


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 three-time MVP. Doncic has never ever received the award, but he figures to be the focus of LA's offense, particularly with LeBron James missing out on the very first part of the season because of sciatica.


Voters tend to choose to offer the benefit of the doubt on close races to those who have not won the award just recently or at all.


"That's constantly the thing with awards," Egeland stated. "It doesn't always go to who had the best 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 believe he ought to've won last year."


Jokic is the favorite at Caesars.


"I personally think Jokic needs to be the favorite," Lieberman stated. "I think there's an argument he most likely ought to'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, however I think there's kind of a prevailing thought that he won since the team's record was so excellent."


Marshall said 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 intriguing to him.


"I think this is the team that might be prepared to remove," Marshall said. "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 said health concerns were an issue for all three clubs.


The Lakers are 16-1 to win the champion and the are at 18-1.


Both groups face their share of questions.


For the Lakers, it James' health in addition to whether this will be his final season. The NBA is examining whether the Clippers violated the income cap concerning an endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard.


"I think the most significant X-factor is the Clippers, a lot more than the Lakers, since of Kawhi," Marshall stated. "His availability, you never learn about that. ... This off-court thing with Kawhi's agreement, will that be an interruption? I don't know.


"The Lakers, you can pick up modification coming. I'm almost convinced 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) 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 likewise tempered expectations.


"I ´ m not really sure how much of an effect Flagg is truly going to make," Marshall stated. "I believe Dallas is not a risk this year. I simply wear ´ t see it with them, and I don ´ t think Flagg is going to be the superstar everybody 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 during 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) during 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)