The 2025-26 NBA season is just a couple of weeks away, and online sportsbook sites are already offering game line odds for the preseason and futures for the upcoming season.
Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2024–25 NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers in a dramatic seven-game series.
The Thunder clinched their first championship since relocating from Seattle in 2008, winning Game 7 by a score of 103–91 on June 22, 2025. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP, capping off a historic season in which he also won the regular season MVP and scoring title.
This year, the Thunder are preseason favorites to win it all again, but that will likely change as the season progresses.
NBA Championship 2025-26
- Oklahoma City Thunder +215
- Denver Nuggets +700
- Cleveland Cavaliers +750
- New York Knicks +950
- Houston Rockets +1200
- Los Angeles Lakers +1200
- L.A. Clippers +1800
- Golden State Warriors +2000
Preseason Betting Complications
Betting on NBA games and preseason competitions presents a unique set of complications due to the unpredictable nature of team strategies and player usage. Coaches often prioritize experimentation over winning, resting star players, or limiting their minutes to evaluate bench talent and rookies.
This lack of consistency makes it difficult to gauge team performance or predict outcomes based on regular-season trends. Additionally, betting lines can be volatile, influenced by last-minute lineup changes or unclear injury reports.
Below are the current odds for tonight’s games from Bovada’s online sportsbook.
Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Date & Time: October 7, 2025 — 7:00 PM
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- Spread: Chicago Bulls: +8.0 (-115), Cleveland Cavaliers: -8.0 (-105)
- Moneyline (Win): Chicago Bulls: +265, Cleveland Cavaliers: -330
- Total Points (Over/Under): Over 230.0 (-115), Under 230.0 (-105)
Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Date & Time: October 7, 2025 — 8:00 PM
- Spread: Indiana Pacers: +7.5 (-115), Minnesota Timberwolves: -7.5 (-105)
- Moneyline (Win): Indiana Pacers: +225, Minnesota Timberwolves: -275
- Total Points (Over/Under): Over 221.5 (-110), Under 221.5 (-110)
Is Preseason NBA Betting Worth The Risk?
Betting on NBA preseason games can be tempting, but it’s generally considered high-risk with limited reward. Teams use the preseason to experiment with lineups, rest key players, and evaluate young talent, making outcomes highly unpredictable.
Star players often see their minutes reduced or are even sat out entirely, and coaches prioritize player development over winning. Because of this, traditional betting strategies based on statistics or trends from the regular season may not be applicable.
If you decide to bet on the NBA preseason competitions, we suggest that you set betting limits, don’t chase losses, and only wager what you can afford to lose. While risky in nature, NBA preseason odds offer bettors favorable odds and multiple ways to win, regardless of who takes the court or not.
