The 2025 NBA playoffs are heating up, with the Indiana Pacers becoming the first team to advance to the conference finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. The Oklahoma City Thunder (-135) are now the odds-on title favorites at BetMGM, followed by the New York Knicks (+500). The Knicks lead their series against the Boston Celtics 3-2, with Celtics star Jayson Tatum out for the playoffs due to a ruptured Achilles.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have also made significant strides, dispatching the Golden State Warriors in five games, marking their first playoff series win as favorites since 2004. Despite fluctuations in public betting during the regular season due to injuries and load management, the playoffs attract substantial betting interest. Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at the Borgata in Atlantic City, notes that the playoffs see a significant increase in betting handle compared to the regular season.
Updated series prices for the 2025 NBA playoffs from BetMGM are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
– No. 4 Indiana Pacers (-325) vs. No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (+260): Indiana wins 4-1
– No. 3 New York Knicks (-275) vs. No. 2 Boston Celtics (+225): New York leads 3-2
Western Conference:
– No. 4 Denver Nuggets (+240) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (-325): Series tied 3-3
– No. 7 Golden State Warriors (+1600) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (-5000): Minnesota wins 4-1
Round 1 series opening prices:
Eastern Conference:
– No. 8 Miami Heat (12-1) vs. No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (-2500): Cleveland wins 4-0
– No. 7 Orlando Magic (16-1) vs. No. 2 Boston Celtics (-5000): Boston wins 4-1
– No. 6 Detroit Pistons (+325) vs. No. 3 New York Knicks (-425): New York wins 4-2
– No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks (+165) vs. No. 4 Indiana Pacers (-200): Indiana wins 4-1
Western Conference:
– No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (10-1) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (-2000): Oklahoma City wins 4-0
– No. 7 Golden State Warriors (-165) vs. No. 2 Houston Rockets (+140): Golden State wins 4-3
– No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (+165) vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers (-200): Minnesota wins 4-1
– No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers (-115) vs. No. 4 Denver Nuggets (-105): Denver wins 4-3