LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder stands as a significant favorite to clinch the NBA title, prompting many bettors to explore other wagering options instead.
Specifically, professional gamblers are leaning towards player prop bets and totals, opting out of the Thunder’s -700 odds on BetMGM and -650 on DraftKings. Meanwhile, Indiana is priced at +500 on BetMGM and +475 on DraftKings. NBA Finals will commence this Thursday.
“Betting money lines and spreads isn’t glamorous,” remarked Christian Cipollini, trading manager at BetMGM. “Even if you support the Pacers, those odds are daunting. You realize, ‘They’re +500 for a reason.’”
The Thunder has tallied at least 30 points in double digits throughout this postseason.
Oklahoma City is enjoying its largest favorite status since the 2018 Golden State team. sportsoddshistory.com. That Warriors lineup, featuring Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, was favored at -1075. Cleveland was led by LeBron James.
The Thunder franchise originated in Seattle in 1979 and claimed its sole title under the SuperSonics moniker before relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008.
CBS Sportsline analyst Bruce Marshall believes the series could extend to seven games, suggesting that the Thunder will face stiffer competition from the Pacers.
“I think they’re likely to win the series, but that price offers little value,” Marshall added. “There’s enough here to keep things interesting.”
Consider SGA
For those unwilling to wager $700 at BetMGM or $650 on Oklahoma City to win $100 at DraftKings, betting on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Finals MVP might be an appealing alternative.
This year’s league MVP is a -600 favorite on DraftKings, making it the largest favorite since odds were posted in 2019, but it’s a comparative bargain against team bets.
Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists during the playoffs.
“He consistently scores 30 points every game,” stated Johnny Avello, Director of DraftKings Race and Sports Operations. “There may be one game where he falls short, but if they lose the series, he’s unlikely to win the award.”
Pacers’ Dynamic Duo
Pascal Siakam narrowly outperformed Tyrese Haliburton to secure the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after Indiana eliminated New York, igniting discussions about the decision.
Halliburton is priced behind Gilgeous-Alexander at +750 on DraftKings for the Finals, with Siakam following at +1600.
“You could pick either of these players,” Avello noted. “Siakam is currently in great form, while Halliburton isn’t.”
On the Road
One reason Marshall feels the Pacers could make this series competitive is their ability to play well away from home, while the Thunder have historically struggled outside their comfort zone.
Indiana has a solid 6-2 road record, winning all three games in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Cavaliers, and claiming two victories at Madison Square Garden to oust the Knicks.
The Thunder are 0-7 against the point spread in playoff road games, but they do hold the home-court advantage, as they are favored by 9.5 points at BetMGM in Game 1.
“There’s a marked difference between their performance at home and on the road,” Marshall said. “That aspect makes it challenging.”
I’m Backing the Thunder
Despite the bulk of futures and series bets favoring Oklahoma City, it may seem counterintuitive that the sportsbook would prefer the Thunder to win the championship.
However, this is the precise situation at BetMGM, which has profited from the Thunder’s season and playoff pricing.
“I don’t believe we’ve seen worse than +400 for them to win it all,” Cipollini stated. “That was the best outcome for us from the start of the season.”
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Source: apnews.com