Lakers surge to 35-1 NBA title favorites after Rockets odds shift

The Los Angeles Lakers saw their NBA title odds shorten to 35-1 after attracting heavy betting attention.

Lakers rise amidst heavy betting The Los Angeles Lakers, once 12-1 during their peak run, became one of the most heavily backed teams across major sportsbooks including BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings. Their odds could continue shrinking if Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves return, with reports suggesting Reaves may be available before the first round concludes. The Lakers' surge in betting markets reflects confidence in their championship push following strong playoff performances. ## Thunder lead odds board after dominant start The Oklahoma City Thunder claimed odds-on status after dominating the Phoenix Suns in Game 1, now listed at -120 for the NBA title. Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs both saw their odds lengthen to +650 following early playoff setbacks, with the Spurs dropping from +500 after Victor Wembanyama's concussion raised concerns. ## Nuggets and Cavaliers see modest changes The Denver Nuggets moved to 11-1 from +900 pre-playoffs after losing Game 2 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers improved slightly to 14-1 since the postseason began, while the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons saw their odds extend to 22-1 and 28-1 respectively after underwhelming starts. ## Timberwolves climb after close call The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the playoffs at 100-1 but surged to 90-1 after nearly overcoming the Nuggets in Game 2, highlighting their unexpected playoff push. Their odds reflect a dramatic turnaround from their pre-season projections, though they remain longshots for the title. ## 2025-26 NBA championship odds table | Team | Champ | Conference | Current Series | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oklahoma City Thunder | -120 | -210 | -20000 | | Boston Celtics | +650 | +150 | -500 | | San Antonio Spurs | +650 | +400 | -550 | | Denver Nuggets | 11-1 | +600 | -230 | | Cleveland Cavaliers | 14-1 | +280 | -1600 | | New York Knicks | 22-1 | +550 | -185 | | Detroit Pistons | 28-1 | +550 | -190 | | Los Angeles Lakers | 35-1 | 22-1 | -135 | | Minnesota Timberwolves | 90-1 | 35-1 | +190 | | Atlanta Hawks | 100-1 | 22-1 | +155 | | Philadelphia 76ers | 150-1 | 25-1 | +380 | | Orlando Magic | 300-1 | 45-1 | +160 | | Houston Rockets | 300-1 | 75-1 | +115 | | Toronto Raptors | 500-1 | 120-1 | +900 | | Portland Trail Blazers | 500-1 | 250-1 | +400 | | Phoenix Suns | 1000-1 | 400-1 | 30-1 | ## Finals MVP odds heat up pre-Round 1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Finals MVP betting at +115, followed by Victor Wembanyama at +550 and Jayson Tatum at 11-1. Nikola Jokic sits at +850, while Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham are at 13-1 and 22-1 respectively. Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns round out the top contenders, with LeBron James at 250-1 and Joel Embiid at 200-1 showing their longshot status.