The Oklahoma City Thunder seem poised to secure back-to-back NBA championships, barring any major injuries. The team has dominated the first five postseason games, winning each by significant margins—9, 12, 13, 18, and 35 points—and some of those wins might not even reflect their best effort. Their strong performance has bookmakers already pricing them as high as -200 to win the title.
Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk management at Westgate SuperBook, expressed confidence in their chances, suggesting it’s unlikely they won’t take home the trophy. He noted that the Thunder’s main competition appears to be a young, less experienced San Antonio Spurs team, which still needs time to reach the same level of success. If the Thunder face the Spurs in the Western Conference finals, the odds might favor Oklahoma City at around -250, with even steeper odds if Minnesota advances. Looking ahead to the NBA Finals, Sherman estimates the Thunder as a -350 favorite over the New York Knicks.
Given the near certainty of a sweep of the Lakers, who are missing Luka Dončić, now might be a good time to bet on Oklahoma City to win it all. If you want to avoid high betting limits at major sportsbooks like Caesars or DraftKings, consider creating more creative wagers—such as parlay bets that include other sports. For example, an Oklahoma City title bet could be combined with a Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup win, which offers a payout exceeding 3-to-1. Or, you could combine your NBA and hockey bets with a World Cup winner—while France is the favorite, Portugal’s odds at 11/1 make for an intriguing three-team parlay approaching 50/1.
The advantage of these multi-sport parlay bets is that they can span the gap between the end of the NBA and NHL seasons and the start of the World Cup group phase, providing potential opportunities to capitalize if your teams succeed. Earlier this week, I composed a four-leg parlay featuring Oklahoma City, Colorado, Scottie Scheffler winning the PGA Championship, and the Chicago White Sox making the playoffs—totaling an impressive 250/1 payout. While I usually advise against such risky parlays daily due to their volatility, betting on future champions where Vegas already leans makes sense and allows some creative wagering.
In summary, the odds strongly favor Oklahoma City’s continued success, making now an excellent opportunity to bet on their championship run. Feel free to add more bets, but remember that these plays are as much about enjoying the thrill as about making money.
Fan Take: This surge by the Thunder highlights how rapidly a young team can rise to dominance, shaking up traditional power structures in sports. For hockey fans, it’s a reminder of how multi-sport success stories can inspire broader national enthusiasm and elevate the sport’s profile across the board.
Source: www.foxsports.com
