2025-2026 NBA Championship Betting
As regular season action resumes and the 2026 NBA Playoff push begins, the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder remains the team to beat. The Thunder remain the class of the NBA as defending champions and Western Conference leaders. They boast the league's best net differential (+11.8), elite defense (No. 1 in points allowed), and a versatile, deep roster built for sustained success.
However, a wave of injuries has created short-term turbulence as they enter the final stretch, testing their depth and potentially impacting their grip on the No. 1 seed and repeat prospects.
Unmatched continuity from last year's title run (returning 99% of playoff minutes), elite two-way play, depth (even short-handed), and youth with experience. Its system thrives on creating advantages and transitions. The West path remains tough but favorable with top seeding.
The injury bug has cooled their dominance (18-13 since their early hot start in some stretches). Repeats are rare, and missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for an extended time risks momentum loss or seeding slip. Additionally, there is a tough upcoming slate (10 of 12 vs. top-8 conference teams).
OKC has a high ceiling for repeat if stars return healthy by March—depth has proven capable of weathering storms. The West remains top-heavy, but OKC's structure positions them best for a deep playoff run. If injuries linger into the playoffs, the ceiling drops; otherwise, they're the team to beat. Long-term, the Thunder is asset-rich (future picks via trades) for sustained contention.
NBA Betting Lines
Celtics at Nuggets Odds and Preview
Ball Arena in Denver, CO, will host the matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, February 26, 2026. Tipoff time is at 10 p.m. ET with television coverage on ESPN.
Tip Off with NBA Action
From buzzer-beaters to slam dunks, every night brings highlight-reel drama. Bet on every NBA game at BookMaker—spreads, totals, moneylines, player props, and live odds all season long.
* Trusted by sharp bettors for over 30 years
* Early odds, fast payouts, and Bitcoin betting
* Live betting and mobile-optimized sportsbook
* Don’t just watch the action — bet on it!
* Sign Up Now and wing into action with your NBA picks today!
NBA Future Market Update and Teams to Watch
Oklahoma City Thunder
The repeat case is strong for OKC: They boast the league's best record, deepest rotation, and fewest exploitable weaknesses. Their net rating crushes the competition, and they've handled top opponents well. Repeats championships are a difficult climb (the last repeat champion was the Warriors in 2017-18), but OKC's youth, continuity, and minor deadline upgrades position them perfectly. The injury to SGA would be the main threat; otherwise, they're the team to beat. West dominance looks locked.
Denver Nuggets
The most realistic challenger to OKC. Nikola Jokic is still the best player alive when healthy, and their supporting cast has gelled deeper this year. The preseason popularity as a title pick holds up—they've been consistent against elite teams. If they avoid injuries and get a favorable West seeding, a rematch with OKC in the conference finals is very plausible. Denver has a slight edge over others due to proven playoff pedigree.
San Antonio Spurs
The breakout story is that Victor Wembanyama has evolved into a true two-way monster, and the young core (with vets) has them close behind OKC in the West standings. Hot streaks and massive odds improvement make them high-value. The ceiling is championship-level if Wemby stays dominant, but experience in deep playoff runs remains a question.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The East's biggest riser after acquiring James Harden. Pairing him with their core creates matchup nightmares and more offensive firepower. If they gel post-deadline, the East looks wide open. There is no dominant force like OKC in the West. Health and chemistry will determine whether they leap to true Finals threat status.
New York Knicks
Tough, deep, and well-coached, the Knicks are strong regular-season performers with star upside in the playoffs. New York is locked in for the top 6 (a direct berth is likely). The East is competitive/parity-heavy—no dominant runaway like OKC in the West—but the Knicks' veteran core, toughness, and home-court edge make them dangerous.
Boston Celtics
Boston has a pedigree from prior contention, but some injury concerns (e.g., Jayson Tatum's mentions) and deadline moves focused on tax relief rather than big upgrades are worrisome. Boston is still dangerous, especially if healthy, but not surging like Cavs/Spurs.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit is the East surprise, emerging as a top-seed contender, with Cade Cunningham thriving. Young, hungry, and improved defensively. Detroit could make noise if they secure a high seeding, but limited playoff experience caps its ceiling compared to the West elites.
Overall, the Thunder are best positioned for a repeat, but the playoffs are unpredictable—Denver or a hot East team could steal it. Odds will shift with the final 20-25 games.
Did You Know?
At BookMaker, we go beyond just providing top-notch sports betting options! Take advantage of these exclusive features and rewards:
BookMaker ATM Card for seamless transactions: Easily access your funds with the BookMaker ATM card, providing instant access to your winnings and secure transactions wherever you go.
Loyalty Levels & BetPoints Programs for additional rewards: Earn BetPoints as you bet, and unlock exciting perks at higher loyalty levels. The more you play, the more you earn!
Seasonal and Reload Bonuses to maximize your earnings: Stay ahead with seasonal promotions and reload bonuses, boosting your bankroll throughout the year.
Early Cashout Option for added flexibility: Cash out your bet early and lock in profits or limit losses—putting you in control of your wagers.
Free Crypto Payouts for fast and secure withdrawals: Enjoy fast, secure withdrawals with zero fees when you choose crypto payouts.
Open Play Option for unique parlay betting: Get creative with your parlays using the Open Play option, offering more ways to win.
Casino Promotions & Contests for extra fun and wins: Join in on exclusive casino promotions and contests, adding excitement to your betting experience.
8% Cash Back on all your horse racing bets: Place horse racing bets and get 8% cash back on your losses, making it easier to bounce back.
Explore all these benefits and more at BookMaker!
Betting Rules & Policies
Free Play Rules
- Free plays cannot be used on proposition bets.
- Free Plays do not earn any BetPoints™
- Bets made using Free Plays do not count towards completing any rollovers. (Free Plays are always subject to a rollover of their own. You must complete the required rollover prior to making a withdrawal).
- The maximum payout for any Free Play is $5,000.
- Free Plays that are left unused for 180 days will be removed from your account.
ROLLOVER
- Did you know that on all deposits made at BookMaker, there is a rollover requirement: an amount of betting action you must fulfill before you are eligible to make a withdrawal.
- Did you know that rollovers are calculated by multiplying the amount initially credited to your account a certain number of times? Yes! If you deposit without claiming any bonus, the rollover will always be 1x (one-time) your deposit amount. If you do claim a deposit bonus, the rollover will be higher and is based on the deposit plus bonus amount.
Wager disputes (claims)
If you disagree with any aspect of a wager you’ve placed, you are welcome to log an official dispute (commonly known as a “claim”). Claims must be reported no later than 15 (fifteen) calendar days following the settlement of the wager.
If following an initial review of the case there remains any doubt regarding the wager type, line, market, amount, or any other detail, the claim will be escalated to the BookMaker management team. All decisions made by them are final.
Wager Cash Out - How it works
With the Cash Out feature you can choose to eliminate a wager that's already been placed, and receive back either a portion, or your full stake amount.
Cash Out is selectively available on certain events, fixtures, and markets.
In order to see if a wager is eligible to be cashed out, simply navigate to your Bet Slip and check the 'My Open Bets' tab. If eligible, the Cash Out button will be displayed.
It’s also important to note that Cash Out is not contributing to any bonus or promotion including Bet Point accumulation and Rollover for releasing bonus cash.
