The 2025 NBA Finals feature one of the most lopsided series in terms of the odds since 1968, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are the biggest finals favorite in franchise history.
One MGM bettor in Las Vegas is clearly a big believer in the Thunder as well, placing a $1.05 million wager Wednesday night on Oklahoma City at -700 odds to beat the Indiana Pacers in the series. The bet would win $150,000.
It’s the largest reported wager on the series so far at legal sportsbooks in the United States.
Oddsmakers are generally rooting for the Thunder in the series, as the big price is prohibitive for too much liability to build up — and the biggest liabilities (the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, etc.) have already been eliminated.
Oklahoma City has struggled against the spread in the playoffs (7-9 ATS), but the young team has come through in the postseason when it’s mattered most — winning a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets and holding off the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 to go up 3-1 in the Western Conference finals.
Despite the odds, public bettors at BetMGM are backing the Pacers to win the series, with the sportsbook reporting earlier today that 94% of wagers and 85% of the total dollars wagered are on the Pacers (+500) to win the series.
Game 1 is 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ABC. The Thunder are 9.5-point favorites, which is the second-largest Game 1 finals spread since 2001.
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