The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Finals, with a -625 odds at BetMGM. The team's impressive 124-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their Western Conference finals matchup has solidified their status as the best team in the NBA this season.
The Thunder finished the regular season with a 68-14 record, securing the top seed in the West for a second straight year and boasting a historically good point differential of 12.9 points per game. This was more than half a point better than the previous record set by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1971-72 season. Oklahoma City also finished at least 16 games ahead of every other team in the Western Conference, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning his first MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander's performance was a key factor in the Thunder's success, as he scored 34 points in Game 5 and led the league with an average of 32.7 points per game, while also averaging 6.4 assists and 5 rebounds. The Thunder's dominance of the Eastern Conference also played a big role in their status as a huge Finals favorite, as they went 29-1 against teams from the East.
The Thunder's only loss to an East team came on Jan. 8 when they fell 129-122 on the road to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they promptly beat the Cavs by 20 at home eight days later. The Thunder have also beaten both the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks this season, with wins of 120-114 on the road and 132-111 at home against the Pacers, and a 117-107 win at home and a 126-101 win at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.
At the moment, the Pacers are the more likely Finals opponent as they have a 3-1 lead over the Knicks ahead of Game 5 in New York. The Pacers are currently +550 to win the Finals ahead of Game 5, while the Knicks are +3000. If you bet $10 on the Thunder to win the Finals, you’d net $1.60 in profit if they were to win the title.
The Thunder's impressive performance this season has been fueled by their strong defense, led by Steven Adams and Al Horford, as well as their dynamic offense, led by Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul. The team's chemistry and cohesion have been evident throughout the season, and their ability to execute in crucial moments has been a key factor in their success.
With a strong core of young talent and experienced veterans, the Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to make a deep run in the playoffs and potentially win their first NBA championship since 2012. The team's dominance this season has been unmatched, and their status as the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Finals is well-deserved.
