ESPN Betting
Apr 30, 2025, 12:30 PM ET
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder entered the playoffs as favorites to win the NBA championship, and they have done nothing to dissuade the betting public so far after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies.
Following the Thunder out West are the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets in an odds tier ranging from 18-1 to 33-1 to win the Finals. The LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, all of whom are trailing their series, round out the remaining Western contenders.
Both the Timberwolves and Warriors are up 3-1 in their respective series, but on Wednesday it's the Rockets (-4.5) and Lakers (-6.5) who are each favored at home to extend the series to a Game 6.
The Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, and they have the second-best odds to take home the NBA title, which would be their second consecutive and 19th overall in franchise history. On Tuesday night, the Celtics and Indiana Pacers joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as teams to punch their ticket to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Cavs and Pacers will play Game 1 on Sunday.
The New York Knicks are up 3-2 on the Detroit Pistons after the Pistons won a tight Game 5. The winner of that series will see the Celtics in the next round.
Early favorites for Finals MVP include Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell, with 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, the ever-present Stephen Curry and a surging Anthony Edwards behind them. A full list of MVP candidate odds follows below.
Resources: Daily Lines | Where to watch | NBA Playoff Bracket
Odds accurate as of publication. For latest and most complete odds go to ESPN BET
NBA Finals MVP favorites
The NBA Finals MVP Award recognizes the player deemed most valuable to his team in the NBA Finals only.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: +155
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +270
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: +650
Jaylen Brown, Celtics: 20-1
Stephen Curry, Warriors: 22-1
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: 25-1
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: 40-1
Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: 40-1
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: 40-1
Darius Garland, Cavaliers: 50-1
Jalen Brunson, Knicks: 50-1
Jalen Williams, Thunder: 50-1
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: 50-1
Luka Doncic, Lakers: 60-1
Derrick White, Celtics: 66-1
LeBron James, Lakers: 66-1
Chet Holmgren, Thunder: 75-1
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: 75-1
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: 100-1
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: 100-1
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