On October 21, 2026, 30 NBA teams started the season with the hopes of capturing the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Twenty of those teams headed to the postseason, and now only four are left standing. We’re on the precipice of the Conference Finals, with the Oklahoma City Thunder battling it out with the San Antonio Spurs out west, and the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers getting down to business in the Eastern Conference. The winning teams will compete in the NBA Finals for the ultimate prize, but we’re anticipating two wildly entertaining series before we get there.
Let’s take a look at the betting odds and what to expect in the Western and Eastern Conference Finals!
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Series Odds: Thunder -250 | Spurs +200
NBA Championship Odds: Thunder -160 | Spurs +300
The Oklahoma City Thunder have made short work of their opponents en route to the Eastern Conference Final. The defending champions have played the minimum number of games, sweeping the Suns in the opening round and then the Lakers in Round 2. As dominant as those wins have looked, OKC faces a new challenge in trying to get past the upstart Spurs in the next round.
Not surprisingly, the Thunder enter the conference finals with the shortest NBA Championship odds and as -250 to knock off San Antonio. However, bettors should be wary of a few factors.
First, the OKC’s defense hasn’t looked as dominant as it was throughout the regular season. On Throughout the campaign, the Northwest Division winners have allowed an opponent shooting percentage of 43.9% throughout the campaign, ballooning to 47.8% in Round 2 of the playoffs. Considering that came against a tired and depleted Lakers squad, we have real apprehensions about their ability to contain San Antonio.
Secondly, the Thunder’s supporting cast has looked a little less impressive in the playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the league MVP, but if he’s contained, we’re less optimistic the rest of the team will be able to penetrate the Spurs’ defensive fortress.
Defensive abilities notwithstanding, San Antonio is one of the few teams that can hang with the Thunder. The Spurs are averaging 116.9 points per game in the playoffs, jumping to 124.4 over their last five. They have extracted maximum value from every part of their roster, ensuring the Spurs have the scoring depth to compete against the Thunder’s floundering defense.
Assuredly, the Thunder are the superior team. Still, the gap between these Western Conference foes isn’t as big as the betting line implies. We’re betting this series goes the distance, with the winner being the clear favorite in the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Series Odds: Knicks -275 | Cavaliers +220
NBA Championship Odds: Knicks +550 | Cavaliers +2200
Few people expected either of the New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers to wander this far into the playoffs. The Knicks dropped two of three against the Hawks before rattling off wins in seven straight. Whereas the Cavs were on the ropes against the Raptors and Pistons, punching their way to Game 7 victories over both squads. These unsuspecting teams now face off for the right to play for the ultimate prize.
New York’s offense has oscillated in the playoffs. But at their best, no one can hang with the Knicks. Across their seven-game winning streak, the Atlantic Division runner-ups have averaged 125.3 points per game. While they’ve fallen below 114 points in three of those contests, the Knicks’ defensive prowess has been a determining factor in their success.
So far this postseason, the Eastern Conference finalists have held opponents to a tidy 101.0 points per game. More impressively, they’ve held their opponents to 98 or fewer in five of the last seven. Even if their offensive well runs dry at times, you can trust the Knicks to stick to their defensive game to stay competitive.
The Cavs’ swings have been even more pronounced than New York’s, putting them at a substantive disadvantage in the Eastern Conference Finals. From an offensive perspective, their scoring has ranged from 125 to 89 in the postseason. Likewise, opponent scoring has ranged from 126 to 93, with the Cavaliers unable to employ a consistent standard across all efforts.
Those ebbs and flows are seen on a game-by-game basis as well. Cleveland has looked out of sorts for extended periods in-game before regaining its footing. While they were able to offset those shortcomings against the Raptors and Pistons, New York’s technical prowess limits the Cavs’ potential in Round 3.
As inferred by the betting price, the Cavaliers are at a sincere disadvantage in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland has the lowest Championship odds of any team, and is a heftier underdog than the Spurs versus OKC. They may be able to stun the Knicks for a game or two, but we’re predicting a resolute New York victory in six games or less.
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