We’re onto the second round of the NBA playoffs, which means that it’s time to take an updated look at NBA Finals odds.
The biggest question here is, can anyone stop the Oklahoma City Thunder, or will they repeat as champions?
With that in mind, we’ll dive into the latest NBA Finals odds and make our predictions as the postseason heats up.
2026 NBA Finals Betting Odds
All basketball odds used for these 2026 NBA Finals predictions are current as of Tuesday, May 5, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Oklahoma City Thunder (-145)
- San Antonio Spurs (+390)
- New York Knicks (+850)
- Detroit Pistons (+1800)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+2200)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+2800)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+4000)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+7000)
It’s an extremely top-heavy field with the Thunder as heavy favorites. But I’m picking a different team to win the NBA Championship.
Use our top NBA playoff betting apps to make these wagers.
Who Will Win the 2026 NBA Finals?
San Antonio Spurs (+390)
The Spurs have taken their game to another level in the second half of the season. Since February 1, they’ve gone 30-4. We’ve also seen them have success against the Thunder this year, beating them in four of five meetings.
Victor Wembanyama has been terrific this season, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 51.2% from the field and 34.9% from beyond the arc. Wemby makes a major impact on the defensive end as well. He’s the kind of generational superstar that can put this team over the top.
San Antonio is a well-balanced team, ranking fourth in Offensive Rating and third in Defensive Rating.
We just saw them cruise in the first round, taking care of the Portland Trail Blazers in five games. Up next is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are dealing with a banged-up Anthony Edwards.
At +390 odds, I like the value on the Spurs over the Thunder as my NBA bet of the day.
NBA Finals Contenders
Oklahoma City Thunder (-145)
We all know that the defending champions are a generational team, finishing with a 64-18 record and 11.1 Net Rating (the next closest is the Pistons at 8.4).
Their path to the NBA Finals got easier with the Nuggets being ousted by the Timberwolves and the Celtics getting upset by the 76ers.
It’s going to be tough for a team to beat the Thunder, but the Spurs certainly have what it takes, as we’ve seen throughout the season. They’re the only squad that can knock off the defending champions, in my eyes.
I don’t want to lay -145 on the Thunder, since this feels too expensive. To get some exposure to this team, I’ll just bet on OKC on a game-by-game basis.
New York Knicks (+850)
Don’t sleep on the Knicks, who made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
New York is a well-rounded team, led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart.
We saw the Knicks take care of business in a tough first-round matchup against the red-hot Atlanta Hawks, showing that they have all the tools to make a deep run.
What’s even better for the Knicks is that the Celtics are eliminated, while the Pistons and Cavaliers face each other. Their path to the NBA Finals just got a lot easier.
NBA Finals Sleeper Pick
Minnesota Timberwolves (+7000)
Disclaimer alert: It’s hard to see any sleeper getting to the NBA Finals. The Pistons and Cavaliers looked underwhelming in the first round. The Lakers still don’t have Luka Doncic back. The 76ers are interesting with Joel Embiid, but their odds aren’t enticing enough.
If you want to take a sleeper, just go with the longest odds. That’s the Timberwolves.
It was impressive to see them hold off the Nuggets, even when Anthony Edwards missed time. There’s a chance that he’ll be back for the second round, so it’s not crazy to see them have a competitive series vs. the Spurs.
Even though the Spurs are my pick to win it all, if you’re into taking sleepers, go with the T-Wolves, since they have the longest price.
