The 2025-26 NBA season is drawing to a close, with the four teams set to take part in the Conference Finals almost set.
Western Conference Playoff Picture
“The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending champions and $2.20 favourites to do it all over again heading into the First Round of the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs.” – NBA Playoffs Preview
Nothing has changed after the Oklahoma City Thunder swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs, beating the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers with relative ease. With big players falling short in the East, and following their dominance, the Thunder are into $1.57 to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again.
More history for OKC!
The Thunder become just the 11th team ever to start a Playoffs 8-0 🔥
2017 GSW (15-0)
2001 LAL (11-0)
1989 LAL (11-0)
2017 CLE (10-0)
2016 CLE (10-0)
2012 SAS (10-0)
1982 LAL (9-0)
2010 ORL (8-0)
2009 CLE (8-0)
2005 MIA (8-0)
2026 OKC (8-0)NBA Playoffs… pic.twitter.com/DHXS3XAjwP
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
The Lakers are no longer in the picture and face an interesting off-season. Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury all but ruled them out of the title race this season. However, LeBron James has proved he still has plenty in the tank while Austin Reaves has a player option – which he’s unlikely to pick up – that needs to be sorted over the summer. The Lakers are never really out of the news cycle, whether they are on the court or not.
On the other side of the bracket, a short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves moved past the Denver Nuggets 4-2. With only eight players available in Game 6, Minny’s athleticism and ball handling proved too much for Nikola Jokic and the 3rd-seeded Nuggets.
Athleticism always plays a role for the San Antonio Spurs, who completed the gentleman’s sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in the First Round. Victor Wembanyama became the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year along the way and showcased why throughout this series. He’s kept it going, although not without controversy in the Second Round.
Anthony Edwards deppis do jogo
"Hoje à noite, algumas das coisas que o Wemby estava fazendo, você realmente não tem muita resposta para aquilo"pic.twitter.com/YqyVpTL0tU
— NBA do Povo 🏀🇧🇷 (@NBAdoPovo) May 13, 2026
Ejected for a brutal elbow to the face of Naz Reid, Wembanyama has faced a tougher time of it in their series against the Timberwolves.
The Spurs lead the series 3-2 ahead of Game 6, where they are $1.48 and -4.5 favourites to end it. However, the Timberwolves have shown enough in this series and in back-to-back seasons of making the Western Conference finals that it isn’t over. Next up in Minnesota, where Anthony Edwards exploded for 36 points on 13/22 shooting, he’s at $5.10 to clear 35 points again and put the Timberwolves in position to force a Game 7.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
The Boston Celtics entered the NBA playoffs as $2.50 favourites to win the Eastern Conference. Instead, they flamed out in the First Round, going down 4-3 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Way out at $23 to win the title before the season tipped off, they’re on the second line of betting at $6.50 ahead of the First Round of the NBA playoffs.” – NBA Playoffs Preview
Despite exceeding expectations without Jayson Tatum throughout the regular season, the Celtics fell short in the end upon his return. The 76ers did similarly in the Second Round. Joel Embiid put the call out to Sixers fans to get behind them and talked a big game before Game 1. But no amount of support could have prepared them well enough to beat the New York Knicks. The 144-114 thumping in Game 4 to confirm the sweep sums up the gap between the two teams.
As much as I don't want to admit it, the Cavs can give the Knicks some serious trouble if James Harden plays like this consistentlypic.twitter.com/4shhtKfIGE
— Kawhi/Raptors Enthusiast 🇨🇦 🇵🇸 (@Kawhifor3) May 14, 2026
New York now awaits the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers v Detroit Pistons series.
Cleveland leads the series 3-2 after a stellar performance from James Harden in Game 5. The veteran guard produced in a moment of need for the Cavaliers to finish with 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a couple of big plays late in the 117-113 win. The playoff narrative – built largely on facts – still surrounds Harden, but he has a chance to put it to bed for a moment with the Cavs going into Game 6 as $1.57 and -3.5 favourites to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
NBA Futures
No surprises at the top of the list to win the NBA Championship from here:
Thunder – $1.57
Spurs – $4.50
Knicks – $7
Cavaliers – $26
Pistons – $61
Timberwolves – $276
It’s the Oklahoma City Thunder’s title to lose at this point, but there might be some value in picking who they beat in the NBA Finals.
The Knicks are favourites to get out of the Eastern Conference Finals at $1.40, ahead of the Cavaliers at $3.60. Cleveland has the star power and versatility to trouble any team on their day, and will pose a more difficult threat to the Knicks than they’ve seen so far, provided they get past the Pistons first.
Cleveland has the size to trouble New York. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are two elite defenders who can make things difficult for Karl-Anthony Towns while also helping to negate the impact Mitchell Robinson has on the boards.
There are valid questions around Harden in the playoffs, but Donovan Mitchell is a proven performer and can go shot-for-shot with Jalen Brunson on the other end. Cleveland can score in a variety of different ways when playing their best basketball.
There is a lot to get through first, and the Knicks will take some beating with home court advantage, but there is value in looking ahead to the NBA Finals and who the Thunder are likely to beat on their way to back-to-back championships.