It’s hard to believe, but the NBA season is in full swing and some teams are starting to separate themselves from one another. As you might have been able to guess, the Thunder have been playing at a high level after winning it all last year, with the usual suspects playing strong. With that said, Oklahoma City remains the favorite to win the 2026 NBA Finals. Will the defending champs be able to get that done?
That’s what plenty of analysts think could be the case, as OKC is once again playing at a fantastic level. The team is obviously being led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and others. SGA and Holmgren are playing like two of the best players in the Western Conference, which isn’t a surprise at all. With that said, it’s a reason why the Thunder are looking to repeat as the champs.
| NBA Finals odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder to win | +130 | +130 | +130 |
| Nuggets to win | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Cavs to win | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Knicks to win | +1250 | +1250 | +1250 |
“I dreamt about it as a kid, but as a kid, it’s a fake dream,” SGA said after winning MVP last season. “But as the days go on and you realize that you get closer to your dream, it’s hard to not freak out. It’s hard to not be a 6-year-old kid again. And I think that’s what’s allowed me to achieve it. I tried to just not focus on it and just worry about what’s gotten to this place.”
According to the best sports betting sites, Oklahoma City holds +130 NBA betting odds, which is pretty surprising. This just shows how dominant they’ve been thus far this year and how much confidence people have in them. It will be interesting to see how this team performs the rest of the season, but the bar has been set for them. It won’t be a surprise at all if they get the job done.
This won’t come as a stunner to a lot of people, but the Denver Nuggets also hold strong odds to win the NBA Finals. Thus far this year, the Nuggets are 17-6 on the season, in second place of the Northwestern Conference. Nikola Jokic is going to once again be in the MVP conversation, as he’s currently averaging a triple-double. Yup, he’s posting 29.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 11 assists per game, which is wild.
“I don’t think they care (that it’s the best start), I think they just want to go play the next game,” Coach David Adelman said. “This is a long, long, long marathon, and this is a good start to the season, 17-6 and the road streak that we’re on, all those things. It’s a cool thing, it’s a really fun group to be around every day, guys just really love basketball, and I love the preparation of it.”
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As for the action back on the hardwood, the Nuggets currently hold the No. 2 odds to win the Finals by the NBA betting sites, being placed at +750. This again shows that OKC is a big favorite, but it could serve as motivation for Denver to go on a deep run and stun OKC in the postseason. A lot of folks are hoping those teams meet in the Western Conference Finals. We’ll find out in 2026 if that happens or not.
While there’s a lot of focus on the Nuggets and Thunder, keep in mind that other teams are in the hunt to make noise in the postseason too. The list includes the Rockets, Knicks, Cavaliers, Lakers and others. With the Lakers, there are going to be plenty of eyes on LA due to LeBron James. Will this be his final year in the NBA or will he return to the league next season?
That’s the $1 million question that everyone has on their minds, but things are a bit fluid there. If this is the ‘last dance’ of sorts for James, he’s going to want to go out with a bang and win his last title. Obviously, that’s not going to be easy for him, as several other teams, including the Thunder, are going to want to make sure his career doesn’t end with another ring.
The Knicks are also an intriguing team for a lot of people, as they’re hoping to get over the edge and get back to the Finals. Will this finally be the year that they win it all? Jalen Brunson would love to make that happen for everyone in Manhattan and the other boroughs, but this team is going to have to improve its play. With all of that said, the Thunder are the top dogs, but others won’t go down without a fight either.
Looking for more betting info? Be sure to check out sportsbooks reviews for any questions you might have.
About the Author
Braulio Perez has been writing about sports professionally since graduating from Washington State in 2011. A fan of all major leagues in the USA, he’s also a supporter of the English Premier League and international soccer.
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