Midway through the 2025-26 NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the top favorites to win the championship, listed at +130 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Denver Nuggets hold steady as the second choices at +450, a notable improvement from their preseason figures of +200 and +650, respectively.
NBA Championship Odds Landscape
Denver entered the season as a heavy public favorite, drawing the most bets and handle at multiple sportsbooks nationwide. DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello notes that the Nuggets represent a minor liability due to their high betting volume, with a 16% handle share tied for the highest alongside Oklahoma City.
Caesars Sportsbook NBA lead David Lieberman explains that the favorites’ shortening odds have limited their overall exposure. “The lower-priced teams just don’t get bet as much throughout the season,” Lieberman stated. “The liability doesn’t rack up quite as much over the course of the year. So, those two teams are now out of big liability status for us.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers started strong in preseason odds, tied with Denver at +650, but slipped to +3000 amid early struggles. A mid-February trade for James Harden from the LA Clippers changed their trajectory. The Cavs won every game featuring Harden before the All-Star break and now sit third at +1200 on DraftKings.
Avello highlighted the need to adjust Cleveland’s odds based on Harden’s talent, though bookmakers express caution about his postseason impact given past performances. “He will help, but how drastically he’ll help is the question,” Lieberman added. “On paper, they are one of the top choices in the East, and maybe they just needed a shake-up.”
Public bettors back the Harden Cavaliers, who captured the second-most Finals winner bets (11.9%) at BetMGM in February, behind only the San Antonio Spurs (13.1%). Cleveland also led Eastern Conference money wagered (30.9%) at the sportsbook that month.
East-leading Detroit Pistons rank fifth overall at +1500 on DraftKings and draw strong conference support, with 19% of Eastern Conference bets there. BetMGM data shows the Pistons topping East winner tickets (25.3%) in February, while theScore Bet reports them leading Finals money (18.6%). Adrian Horton, senior director of North American sports trading at the sportsbook, stated: “The Pistons have been popular all year and are a force in the East, but top teams continue to draw action.”
New York Knicks (+1300) and Boston Celtics (+1500) remain public darlings due to their market size, leading DraftKings’ Eastern Conference bets and handle. Both rank in BetMGM’s top five for February Finals action.
MVP Odds and Eligibility Challenges
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic dominate MVP odds at -210 and +300 on DraftKings. The 65-game eligibility threshold poses risks: Gilgeous-Alexander can miss 10 more games, Jokic just one, Luka Doncic five, and Victor Wembanyama three.
Lieberman expressed surprise at Jokic’s betting surge post-January 30 return, despite his tight margin. He anticipates one favorite will qualify, but alternatives like Cade Cunningham (+1400) and Jaylen Brown (+5000) have seen action at longer odds.
“Those guys we’re not in great shape on, but when you look at the two chalks, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, we are in good shape,” Avello said.
