The Thunder top NBA playoff odds, the Spurs own the season series and the Celtics hover close

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The odds indicate the true NBA Finals will be a potential Western Conference showdown between the defending champion Thunder and a Spurs team that has had its way with Oklahoma City this season.

But the numbers also say as the NBA postseason begins not to count out the Celtics, who are just two years removed from winning their record 18th championship.

Advertisement

OKC is a +120 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook to become the first team since Golden State in 2018 to repeat as champion. San Antonio, which defeated the Thunder four out of five times in the regular season, is next at +450. Boston lurks close behind at +550.

Every other team carries odds of 10-1 or longer.

“The West team is going to be favored in the final unless there’s a real shocker,” said Bruce Marshall, handicapper for WagerTalk/Gold Sheet. “We’re assuming it’s Oklahoma or San Antonio. Either of those two would be favored. Boston would have the best chance, I think, in the East, followed by the Knicks and then Detroit.”

David Lieberman, pro basketball lead at Caesars Sportsbook, expressed caution about assuming favorites would wind up in the NBA Finals.

Advertisement

“It should be pretty wide open this year, and I can see any of the top 3-5 seeds making a run in each conference,” Lieberman said. “I expect several long, competitive series all the way through.”

Key Eastern players return

Jayson Tatum’s earlier-than-expected return from an Achilles tendon tear sustained in last year’s playoffs has made bettors believers of the Celtics. Boston was listed at 10-1 before his comeback, and 8.7% of the bets and 8.2% of the money at BetMGM are on the Celtics. That’s behind only the Pistons in the Eastern Conference (10.2% of bets, 9.7% of the handle).

There is plenty of reason for optimism in Detroit with Cade Cunningham back after missing about three weeks because of a collapsed lung.

Advertisement

Even though the West is better and deeper, many bettors see value in the numbers in the East.

“The Detroit Pistons have been getting bet all year, and now with Cade Cunningham back and healthy, bets are coming in on them again,” Lieberman…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/thunder-top-nba-playoff-odds-194611631.html

Author : MARK ANDERSON

Publish date : 2026-04-13 19:46:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.