2026 NBA Championship Betting
At the onset of 2025-26 future market action, gamblers see the Oklahoma City Thunder as the favorite to repeat as 2025-26 NBA champions. In fact, many fans, gamblers, and observers see the Thunder as a potential dynasty. And with superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that vision is understandable, although the realism remains to be seen.
Following the Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets are the next choices. Cleveland has annoyed fans and gamblers with strong regular seasons that were followed by playoff flops. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have failed to reach the heights of their 2023 NBA championship.
NBA Betting Lines
NBA Championship Betting Odds
| ODDS TO WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 2025/26 |
| Atlanta Hawks +2850 |
Boston Celtics +4500 |
Brooklyn Nets +87535 |
| Charlotte Hornets +106238 |
Chicago Bulls +72081 |
Cleveland Cavaliers +650 |
| Dallas Mavericks +3150 |
Denver Nuggets +700 |
Detroit Pistons +4000 |
| Golden State Warriors +1700 |
Houston Rockets +1300 |
Indiana Pacers +12500 |
| Los Angeles Clippers +2200 |
Los Angeles Lakers +1500 |
Memphis Grizzlies +11000 |
| Miami Heat +9645 |
Milwaukee Bucks +6300 |
Minnesota Timberwolves +2200 |
| New Orleans Pelicans +44079 |
New York Knicks +800 |
Oklahoma City Thunder +222 |
| Orlando Magic +2374 |
Philadelphia 76ers +3850 |
Phoenix Suns +31234 |
| Portland Trail Blazers +20309 |
Sacramento Kings +44917 |
San Antonio Spurs +4500 |
| Toronto Raptors +13839 |
Utah Jazz +90300 |
Washington Wizards +90308 |
*Odds as of Monday, October 13, 10:00 AM ET
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Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder Betting News
On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Houston Rockets at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK, to open the NBA season. Tipoff time is at 7:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on NBC.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder went 83-21 straight up and 65-35-4 against the spread. In the previous season, the Thunder went 63-29 straight up and 52-39-1 against the spread. Hence, few teams have brought more value to the board than the Thunder. The question is whether Oklahoma City can maintain that value for a third consecutive season. Of great concern is that the Thunder has the full attention of opponents and gamblers. It will be difficult for the Thunder to get its value pricing of the past two seasons.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Speaking of value, the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown it as well. Last year, the Cavaliers were 69-22 straight up and 52-38-1 against the spread. Despite three consecutive playoff appearances and a .780 win percentage last year, the Cavaliers have not advanced past the Eastern Conference semifinals. With Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland has the core for a potentially big season.
Denver Nuggets
When the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship, there was talk of a dynasty just as there is now with the Oklahoma City Thunder. But the Nuggets never fully regained their focus. Despite having the marquee player that many consider the best in basketball, Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have not been a reliable betting value.
Following their championship, Denver went 54-30 straight up and 43-49-2 against the spread. Last year, Denver went 57-39 straight up and 46-48-2 against the spread. After stumbling late in the regular season, head coach Mark Malone was fired and replaced by assistant David Adelman. The Nuggets showed marginal improvement after Adelman took over. Hence, the interim tag was removed.
Still, Denver has a lot to prove to gamblers after two years of red ink.
New York Knicks
The misery, heartbreak, and bizarre world of the New York Knicks continues. Last year, the Knicks made the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years under head coach Tom Thibodeau. As a result of this landmark accomplishment, Thibodeau was fired after the playoff run. If anything epitomizes why the Knicks have not won an NBA championship since 1973, that is it.
Mike Brown is the kinder, gentler replacement for the demanding and defense-oriented Thibodeau. To his credit, Brown is a 2-time NBA Coach of the Year. Later, he won the NBACOY award in 2023 with the Sacramento Kings, but was unable to sustain success there. Brown coached LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on two occasions but was fired both times. He was not on the bench when Cleveland won the 2016 NBA title.
While New York is getting plenty of future market love, the fact remains that they may suffer a serious regression this season.
Houston Rockets
An emerging power for gamblers to watch is the Houston Rockets. Last year, the Rockets went 55-34 straight up and 46-41-2 against the spread. It was a breakout season for head coach Ime Udoka and the Rockets, who have been rebuilding for the past several seasons. Kevin Durant has arrived to offer star power and scoring in the year ahead.
Los Angeles Lakers
Few teams get more love from gamblers with worse value than the Lakers. Following a rare season of profit, the Lakers flopped in the first round of the playoffs, losing to Minnesota in five games. Luka Doncic arrived in a mid-season trade to salvage the 2024-25 campaign and replace LeBron James as the marquee man in LA. James wore out his welcome long ago, and the franchise and its fans are ready to move on.
NBA Teams
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