Earlier than the NBA Playoffs began, the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been favored to make the NBA Finals and nothing has modified on that entrance. Each groups cruised by the primary spherical and are the clear favorites to get to the Finals.
Forward of Monday’s collection opener between the Thunder and Denver Nuggets, the Thunder are the betting favourite to win the franchise’s first NBA championship. The Thunder are +135 to win all of it and a commanding -220 to make it to the Finals. The Celtics, partially buoyed by Cleveland’s Sport 1 residence loss to Indiana on Sunday, are -155 to win the Japanese Convention and +195 to assert the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Cleveland was tighter to these high favorites getting into the playoffs, however is a bit behind now at +600. The Cavs blew away Miami in a four-game sweep within the first spherical, however Sunday’s loss with out Darius Garland put some doubt into Cleveland’s standing. Garland’s return date is unclear. He has been out since getting damage in Sport 2 in opposition to Miami on April 23. Even with the 1-0 collection deficit, the Cavs are nonetheless favored (-210) to get previous the Pacers.
2025 NBA champion odds
After Cleveland, the opposite 5 groups are all lengthy photographs to win the title. Minnesota is fourth within the odds at +1600. The Timberwolves, the No. 6 seed within the Western Convention, pulled off an upset by taking out the Los Angeles Lakers in simply 5 video games. Minnesota will get home-court in Spherical 2 after the Golden State Warriors knocked out Houston in Sport 7 on Sunday.
The Warriors have been enjoying higher and acquired extra love in futures odds because the Jimmy Butler commerce, however are nonetheless underdogs in opposition to Minnesota. The Timberwolves are -180 to win that collection whereas Golden State is +150. Anthony Edwards vs. Stephen Curry is high-quality NBA theater, even when neither group is seen as a main contender to win all of it.
The Pacers and Nuggets are subsequent at +3500 to win the title. Denver bought by the LA Clippers within the first spherical, however it took seven video games, and confidence within the Nuggets just isn’t as excessive after Mike Malone’s firing on April 8 confirmed upheaval within the group. Even with Nikola Jokić main the way in which and championship-winning expertise for this core, Denver is +550 to get by Oklahoma Metropolis.
New York Knicks followers are absolutely excited to see their group win a playoff collection for the third yr in a row, however the Knicks are the longest of lengthy photographs forward of their collection in opposition to the Celtics. The Knicks are +6000 to win all of it. The collection in opposition to Detroit within the first spherical was powerful, and Boston is the defending champion. No matter what occurs subsequent, the Knicks have made the second spherical for 3 years in a row, which hasn’t occurred because the Patrick Ewing-era Knicks did that for 9 straight years from 1992-2000.
As for Finals MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favourite at +140. Jayson Tatum is subsequent at +260 with Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell at +800. There’s nothing sophisticated or stunning about this record. SGA might win the NBA MVP and is clearly the most effective participant on the group that’s at present favored to win the title. With Tatum, there’s no less than an opportunity Jaylen Brown might get scorching and win Finals MVP, however in any other case, these odds principally mimic their groups’ title odds.
Betting hyperlinks on this article are supplied by companions of The Athletic. Restrictions might apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions haven’t any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t overview tales earlier than publication.
(Picture of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Justin Ford / Getty Photographs)
Dan Santaromita is a senior editor for sports activities betting who has labored at The Athletic since 2021. Dan beforehand labored at NBC Sports activities Chicago and ProSoccerUSA. He’s a College of Missouri graduate who resides in Chicago. Comply with Dan on Twitter @TheDanSanto
