Oklahoma City Thunder Clinch First NBA Championship
In a significant display of strength, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their first ever NBA championship on Sunday night, triumphing over the Indiana Pacers with a score of 103-91 in a thrilling Game 7. Having concluded a remarkable season, the Thunder are now being viewed favorably in the betting world for future title shots.
Betting Odds Favor Oklahoma City Thunder
According to BetMGM, Oklahoma City has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2025-26 NBA championship, opening with odds of +240. These odds represent the most favorable position for any team since the 2018-19 Golden State Warriors, who were favorites at -245 during their championship chase that year. Although the Warriors made it to the Finals, they ultimately fell short against the Toronto Raptors due to injuries affecting star players Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
Trailing behind Oklahoma City in the Eastern Conference odds are the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, both standing at +700. On the other side, the Houston Rockets have surged to +800 following the acquisition of Durant, marking a significant shift from their earlier 12-1 consensus odds as future speculation surrounding the player’s move intensified before Game 7 commenced. This places Houston as the leading Western Conference contender after the Thunder.
Other Notable Odds
Other notable odds include the Los Angeles Lakers at 15-1, the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics both at 16-1, and the Orlando Magic at 18-1, which represent their most favorable preseason title odds since the 2010-11 season. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks have the ninth-best title odds at 35-1 after securing the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, expected to choose promising Duke player Cooper Flagg.
For the Pacers, their title hopes are considerably diminished as they are tied with the Detroit Pistons at odds of 66-1, especially with the potential loss of Tyrese Haliburton, who is recovering from an Achilles injury sustained in Game 7. Lastly, the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz find themselves at the bottom of the betting predictions, currently situated at 1000-1.
As the NBA develops into the next season, the Thunder, buoyed by their recent victory, look poised to continue their winning momentum.
