2025 NBA Western Conference Odds and Predictions

The West is wild again. With the 2025 NBA Playoffs tipping off, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter as the favorites to win the Western Conference, but they’ll face a minefield of championship pedigrees, rising stars, and dangerous underdogs trying to take them down.

Let’s break down the latest Western Conference odds, spotlight the contenders, highlight the best value plays, and make our prediction for who comes out of the gauntlet.

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NBA Western Conference Odds

Check out the latest NBA Western Conference odds courtesy of the best sports betting sites:

Team	Opening Odds	April Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder	-145	-140
Los Angeles Lakers	+550	+600
Golden State Warriors	+600	+700
Los Angeles Clippers	+1600	+1000
Denver Nuggets	+1000	+1400
Minnesota Timberwolves	+2000	+2000
Houston Rockets	+2200	+2500
Memphis Grizzlies	+6000	+15000
Dallas Mavericks	+50000	+30000

The Thunder’s rise to favorite status has been one of the season’s biggest stories, but with so much playoff experience packed into the middle of the bracket—Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, Nuggets—this race is far from over.

Looking for sharp betting advice? Check out our Best Handicappers before placing your bets.

NBA Western Conference Favorites

The following NBA teams are considered the favorites to win the NBA Western Conference:

NBA Western Conference Favorites

The following teams are considered the favorites to win the Western Conference, according to the latest NBA odds:

Oklahoma City Thunder (-140)

The Thunder have leveled up fast. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is almost certainly going to win MVP this season, Chet Holmgren gives them elite rim protection, and this roster plays with a chemistry and hunger you don’t often see in young teams.

The Thunder have emerged as the top seed in the Western Conference, boasting a league-best 68-14 record. Their success is largely attributed to Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league in scoring with an average of 32.7 points per game.

The Thunder’s roster is a blend of young talent and seasoned players. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein anchor the paint, while Jalen Williams contributes significantly on both ends of the floor. The additions of Hartenstein and Alex Caruso have bolstered their defense and rebounding capabilities, as well. This team is simply better than the one that finished as the No. 1 seed a season ago before losing in the 2nd round of the playoffs to Dallas.

Despite their youth, Oklahoma City has demonstrated resilience and adaptability throughout the season. Their ability to force turnovers and maintain a high defensive rating makes them a formidable opponent. While some bettors are hesitant due to their short odds, the Thunder’s consistent performance positions them as major contenders to make the NBA Finals.​

That said, we’re not getting great value with OKC at -140. This team is still heavily reliant on SGA offensively. If he’s not on his game, do the Thunder have enough offensive firepower elsewhere to make up for it?

Los Angeles Lakers (+600)

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the playoffs as one of the more polarizing contenders in the West. On paper, they’ve got the star power: LeBron James and Luka Dončić headline a team that should be terrifying. But the reality is more complicated. Since Dončić joined the lineup, the team’s been solid—but not unstoppable—going 18-10 and finishing with a modest +2.0 net rating when he shares the floor with LeBron. For a duo that screams superteam, the chemistry hasn’t quite clicked yet.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. Dončić has perked up over the past few weeks, and this first-round Wolves matchup works out beautifully for L.A. Minnesota’s perimeter D isn’t designed to contain big, bruising wings or elite shot-creators like Luka, and the Lakers’ coaching staff will likely scheme around that by hiding him defensively. If they can get by Minnesota without overextending their stars, they’ll enter Round 2 rested and dangerous.

This team has the rare playoff luxury of being able to both lean on elite iso scorers and switch their defensive coverages on the fly—tools that always travel well in the postseason. The path isn’t easy, but if the offense clicks and the minutes are managed wisely, the Lakers are absolutely live to win the West.

Betting-wise, +600 is attractive. There’s some chaos in the bracket and plenty of veteran know-how on L.A.’s bench. It’s a bet on star power—and for better or worse, that’s what the playoffs are all about.

Golden State Warriors (+700)

The Golden State Warriors were supposed to be fading into the sunset—but here they are again, lurking in the 7-seed and ready to ruin someone’s bracket. Their first-round matchup with Houston is classic old-school vs. new-school: playoff-tested vets against hyper-athletic upstarts. And if their last meeting was any indication (a 106-96 Rockets win in San Francisco), the Warriors will have their hands full.

What’s fueling their late-season optimism? For one, they went 24-7 when Jimmy Butler was in the lineup. Add that to the usual Stephen Curry magic and the return of Draymond Green’s All-NBA defensive form, and suddenly this team looks feisty. Houston’s all-everything defender Amen Thompson outright erased Curry’s production in a Houston matchup earlier this year—but that’s exactly what makes this potential run interesting. Even when the stars struggle, someone else is capable of stepping up.

Golden State’s margin for error is thinner than in years past, but they’re deeper than they’ve been in a while, and their playoff experience gives them a real edge. The question is whether their shooting holds up under pressure and whether the young frontcourt can hold its own physically.

At +700, the Warriors are a classic value play. You’re banking on a core that’s done this before, and in a West filled with inexperience and injury concerns, that counts for a lot.

Best Western Conference Betting Value

The following teams are our NBA picks for the best betting value to win the NBA Western Conference:

LA Clippers (+1000)

The Los Angeles Clippers closed the season on an 18-3 heater and look like a problem heading into the postseason. Kawhi Leonard is officially back to “That Guy” status—locking up ballhandlers, punishing switches, and dragging his team to wins in close games. They’ve been hanging with the league’s best and look more complete now than they have all season. LA nabbed the No. 5 seed after a dramatic overtime win over the Warriors in the Bay on the final day of the regular season.

Their first-round matchup with Denver is basically a who’s-who of MVP-caliber talent. But the key might actually be Ivica Zubac. Yep. Zubac’s ability to stay out of foul trouble and keep Jokic from completely nuking the Clippers’ paint defense is absolutely crucial. Back him up? There’s not much. But keep him on the floor for 35-40 minutes, and the Clippers suddenly have a shot to win the math battle.

This is also a fascinating chess match between two young coaching minds: Ty Lue vs. David Adelman. If Kawhi and Harden stay healthy and engaged, and if Norman Powell gets rolling, this is a team nobody wants to see. They’ve got wing depth, defensive flexibility, and just enough creation to hang with anyone.

At +1000, the Clippers offer real upside. They’re experienced, peaking at the right time, and finally healthy. If there was ever a year for this core to break through, it’s this one.

Denver Nuggets (+1400)

Let’s be clear: you’re not getting +1400 for a scrub team. You’re getting it for the former champs with Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP and the best passing big man we’ve ever seen. But the shine has worn off just a bit. Jamal Murray’s hamstring is a question mark. Their bench? Still a problem. Sure, bench depth is generally less of a factor in the playoffs, but it’s a problem nonetheless.

The Denver Nuggets are tough to evaluate because they can coast. They know how to pace themselves and how to win ugly. But the Clippers matchup forces them into a grind—one where every possession will be a battle of inches. If Jokić has to do everything, they may not have enough offensive juice to hang in shootouts. That said, if Murray’s healthy and Aaron Gordon finds his groove, they’re still one of the most balanced teams in the league.

Coaching is another wild card. Interim coach David Adelman is stepping into a brutal tactical matchup against Ty Lue, who’s a master at in-series adjustments. Can Adelman handle the moment? If so, this team’s ceiling skyrockets.

At +1400, you’re betting on Jokić being the best player in every series. That’s not a bad bet—but it’s one that comes with serious risk this time around.

Top NBA Western Conference Longshot

Let’s be real: the Houston Rockets (+2500) aren’t supposed to win the West this year. But man, they’re fun—and in the playoffs, chaos is currency. This young squad is ridiculously athletic, scrappy, and weird enough to give elite teams real headaches. They’ve got Alpern Sengun playing the point-center role to perfection, Jalen Green ready to dunk on everyone, and Amen Thompson picking up Stephen Curry 94 feet from the basket. It’s absurd—and awesome.

We’re about to learn a lot about this team. Can Sengun generate offense against Draymond Green? Can Green be more than just a highlight reel? And what’s Jabari Smith Jr.’s role when the tempo slows and the physicality ramps up? We’re about to find out, and the answers could shape the Rockets’ next five years.

Their downside? The youth, of course. The Rockets can go ice cold, and they’re facing a Warriors team that practically invented playoff runs. But if they can steal a game early and put some doubt in Golden State’s mind, their size and energy could snowball.

Let’s not forget that the Rockets are the No. 2 seed in the West, which certainly isn’t reflected in their odds to win the conference. Despite winning 52 games, Houston’s Western Conference odds are the 7th-best of any team. Oddsmakers are confident that their lack of playoff experience will be their undoing, but this team is so tough defensively and on the boards that they’re capable of making a deep run.

At +2500, they’re the longshot with real bite. Maybe they’re a year too early—but maybe that’s what makes them dangerous.

NBA Western Conference Predictions

The Thunder are electric, the Lakers are dangerous, and the Nuggets are lurking—but the Clippers might have the clearest path if their stars can stay upright.

It’s a high-risk bet, but with Kawhi healthy and Harden embracing a secondary role, this could be the year it finally clicks. I love the value on the Clippers at +1000 to make it to the NBA Finals for the first time in the franchise’s history. This is a team nobody wants to face, and with good reason. Call me crazy but my NBA pick to win the Western Conference is the Clips!

NBA Western Conference Winners

The following is a list of the most recent NBA Western Conference winners:

Year	Team	Record
2023-24	Dallas Mavericks	50-32
2022-23	Denver Nuggets	53-29
2021-22	Golden State Warriors	53-29
2020-21	Phoenix Suns	51-21
2019-20	Los Angeles Lakers	52-19
2018-19	Golden State Warriors	57-25
2017-18	Golden State Warriors	58-24
2016-17	Golden State Warriors	67-15
2015-16	Golden State Warriors	73-9
2014-15	Golden State Warriors	67-15