The Houston Rockets hold a lead on the Golden State Warriors in the overall Western Conference standings, but it's Stephen Curry and company that remain the favorites on the odds to win the NBA championship at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Golden State, in danger of having to settle for the No. 2 seed in the Western side of the NBA playoff bracket thanks to the red-hot play of James Harden and Houston, are nonetheless the -140 favorites (wager $140 to win $100) on the updated NBA title odds at the sportsbooks. The Rockets are second on that futures list at +220 (wager $100 to win $220) as they try to hang on to the top record in the conference this season.
Over in the Eastern Conference it's a similar story, with reputation trumping records on the NBA title odds. The Toronto Raptors hold down the best record in the East heading into the week, but trail at +900 on the NBA championship odds. That puts them not only behind the Warriors and Rockets but the Cleveland Cavaliers as well, who sit just ahead at +800 odds.
LeBron James has been to the NBA Finals every year since 2011 – four times with the Heat, and the last three years with the Cavaliers. So even though Cleveland could end up finishing anywhere from the No. 3 seed to the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference based on their recent middling play, they're still considered one of the top title contenders by oddsmakers.
The Boston Celtics then follow at +1600 on the NBA championship odds, with the Oklahoma City Thunder at +2800, and the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers all well back at +6600. The payouts get even larger from there, with the Minnesota Timberwolves at +8500, and the Washington Wizards at +9500.
Longer shots include the Utah Jazz at +15000, the Indiana Pacers at +20000, both the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks at +25000, and the New Orleans Pelicans at +35000.
Each of the last three NBA Finals have been matchups between the Warriors and the Cavaliers, with those two teams meeting in the championship round once again this spring set as the +150 favorite on the NBA betting props. Will this be LeBron's last run of games with the Cavaliers? The Cavs and Rockets are +250 co-favorites to be James' team next season.
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