2026 NBA Futures, Championship Odds: Spurs closing the gap on Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to dominate the West, but the San Antonio Spurs have remained hot on their tail, looking more and more like a legitimate contender by the game. Out East, the Detroit Pistons still hold top spot but face uncertainty after Cade Cunningham’s injury.
Meanwhile, historic moments from Kevin Durant and LeBron James, along with Bam Adebayo’s jaw-dropping, record-setting 83-point performance (36 made free throws), have added even more intrigue to a chaotic stretch run fuelled by tight play-in races and widespread tanking.
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How did the NBA Championship odds change?
The Thunder have tightened further from +135 to +120, after ripping off 11 straight wins. They are the most complete team in basketball. The Spurs have also shortened from +750 to +550, riding their own six-game win streak.
Boston remains steady at +550 with more of a Jayson Tatum sample size, while the Knicks are gaining traction, shortening slightly as their winning streak hits six. The biggest drop belongs to Detroit, whose odds have fallen from +1900 to +3000 following Cunningham’s injury. Meanwhile, the Lakers have surged from long shot territory to +5000 amid a nine-game heater.
Hot and cold teams to watch out for
The New York Knicks are peaking at the right time, with young guard Tyler Kolek’s 42-point explosion showcasing a newfound level of depth that could push NY over the hump.
The Southeast Division has become a surprising hotbed. The Atlanta Hawks (9-1 in their last 10), Orlando Magic (6-4), Miami Heat (6-4), and Charlotte Hornets (7-3) are all surging, turning the play-in race into a dogfight. Charlotte, in particular, is playing with sustained confidence and momentum.
The Washington Wizards’ and Indiana Pacers’ 16-game losing streaks highlight just how aggressively teams are chasing draft position in a loaded 2026 class. In fact, we already know who the 10 play-in/playoff teams are in each conference; we just don’t know the exact order.
The bottom five teams in the West and East have each entered a full-on tankathon: Bucks, Bulls, Nets, Wizards, Pacers, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Jazz, and Kings. The Jazz, Kings, Nets, Wizards, and Pacers have all already been mathematically eliminated from the NBA playoffs.
Best NBA Championship futures bet to lock in right now: Hornets to make playoffs (-140)
Buzz City is rolling, and the Charlotte Hornets look like a team ready to crash the playoff party. Winners of five of their last six, they’ve climbed into the NBA play-in picture and are destined for more.
Rookie Kon Knueppel has been sensational, averaging 19.1 points while shooting 43.4 per cent from three and already breaking the NBA rookie three-point record. LaMelo Ball is playing his most controlled season yet, while Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges provide consistent scoring support.
The Hornets now rank ninth in Net Rating (15th defence, fifth offence) and rank second in the NBA in rebounding. With supreme confidence and depth (sparked by Coby White and young front-court pieces Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate), Charlotte is positioned to survive the NBA play-in and push either the Pistons or Celtics to the brink.