NBA Back to the Futures: Latest NBA Championship odds and hot/cold teams to watch
The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to reach 50 wins, as they continue to try to stave off the San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the West. Meanwhile, the East tightened, allowing the Boston Celtics to close the gap to just 2.5 games at the top behind the Detroit Pistons.
The aforementioned Spurs have continued their historic surge after an 11-0 February, while the Orlando Magic remain on a heater. A superstar out East has also returned from injury, immediately boosting his team’s championship outlook.
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How did the NBA futures odds change?
The Thunder are still the clear favourite to win the NBA championship at +135. Their elite defence and depth continue to separate them from the field.
The biggest move belongs to the Boston Celtics, whose odds shortened from +1100 to +600 following the return of Jayson Tatum after a season-long absence recovering from the achilles tear last postseason. Boston had already been surging behind Jaylen Brown, and the addition of a fully healthy Tatum immediately reestablishes them as the East’s most dangerous playoff team.
San Antonio continues to command respect at +750. The Denver Nuggets remain a steady contender at +800, while Cleveland rounds out the top tier at +1000.
Further down the board, teams like the New York Knicks (+1600), Detroit Pistons (+1900), Houston Rockets (+2700) and Minnesota Timberwolves (+3500) remain intriguing long shot plays. The Los Angeles Lakers, currently +10000, have drifted as injuries continue to disrupt their season.
Hot and cold teams to watch out for
The hottest team in the Western Conference remains the San Antonio Spurs, who have now gone 15-1 over their last 16 games. Victor Wembanyama continues to dominate both ends of the floor, highlighted by a stunning 25-point comeback win over the Clippers on March 6.
The Oklahoma City Thunder also deserve attention. They sit at 50-15, own the league’s best defence, and have gone undefeated since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from injury. With SGA back in MVP form, OKC looks increasingly like a team capable of defending its title.
In the East, the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are improving, trying to break free from the shackles of play-in tournament positioning. Miami is riding a five-game winning streak, while Atlanta has won six straight.
On the colder side, the Detroit Pistons have stumbled recently, losing four straight and watching their once-comfortable lead atop the Eastern Conference shrink. Injuries have also begun impacting several contenders, including the Lakers, who continue to manage LeBron James’ health late in the season.
The Orlando Magic have gone 7-3 since the All-Star break, are 4-1 so far in March and lead the NBA with six game-winning shots this season.
Best NBA futures bet to lock in right now: Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to Western Conference Finals (+500)
Currently sitting third in the West at 40-24, the Timberwolves are being overshadowed by the Thunder and Spurs despite owning significant playoff experience. This core has already reached two consecutive Western Conference Finals, giving them an edge over younger contenders like San Antonio.
Anthony Edwards has also been playing at an elite level, averaging nearly 30 points per game, good for third in the NBA. Against San Antonio this season, Edwards has been nearly unstoppable, scoring 110 total points across three meetings while shooting 58 per cent from the field.
Minnesota even took the season series from the Spurs 2-1, with their lone loss coming by just three points.
At +500 to reach the Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves present a compelling value play as a proven postseason team capable of making another deep playoff run.