2025-2026 NBA Championship Betting
The Oklahoma City Thunder holds the best record in the league and has already clinched a postseason berth. They are followed closely in the Western Conference by the San Antonio Spurs, who have also secured their spot.
The middle of the West remains highly competitive as the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are all within striking distance of each other for home-court advantage. At the bottom of the Western bracket, the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers occupy the final guaranteed spots. At the same time, the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers are currently positioned for the play-in tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons lead the pack and have clinched their postseason position. The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks follow in second and third place, respectively. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic are also firmly in the mix for top seeds.
The race for the final guaranteed playoff spots involves the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Charlotte Hornets are battling to stay in the play-in range as the regular season concludes.
Several teams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention, including the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Indiana Pacers.
The NBA championship odds show the Oklahoma City Thunder as favorites, followed by the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.
The upcoming SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled for April 14 through April 17, with the first round of the playoffs officially beginning on April 18.
NBA Betting Lines
Lakers at Rockets Odds and Preview
The Los Angeles Lakers travel to face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 9:30 PM ET at the Toyota Center in a matchup with significant Western Conference playoff implications. ESPN leads national television coverage.
Timberwolves at Celtics Odds and Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics matchup on Sunday, March 22, 2026, with a scheduled tipoff at 8:00 PM ET. This matchup is being broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock.
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
Biggest Busts This Season
The Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers stand out as the biggest disappointments of the season after being the first teams mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Sacramento entered the year with a high-priced veteran core, including Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, but collapsed following the departure of De’Aaron Fox and a franchise-record 15-game losing streak.
The Indiana Pacers fell even further from grace after a 2025 run to the NBA Finals due to a season-ending injury to Tyrese Haliburton and the loss of Myles Turner in free agency.
The New Orleans Pelicans have also failed to meet expectations, as persistent health issues for Zion Williamson and a lack of depth following the Derik Queen trade left them near the bottom of the Western Conference.
In Dallas, the Mavericks have struggled while trying to integrate rookie Cooper Flagg into a lineup hampered by injuries to Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II.
Top Games This Week
The NBA schedule from March 16 through March 22 features several matchups that will directly impact the final playoff and play-in seeding.
One of the most critical stretches involves a home-and-home series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets on March 16 and March 18. These games are vital because both teams are currently neck-and-neck for the fourth seed in the Western Conference, which determines home-court advantage in the first round.
In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic enter a March 16 game against the Atlanta Hawks on a seven-game winning streak. This contest is significant for Orlando as they try to climb into the top three while Atlanta fights to solidify their spot in the play-in tournament.
On March 17, the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks in a game that could decide future playoff tiebreakers for the Cavs. Cleveland follows that with another high-stakes game against the Magic on March 18, which could serve as a preview of a 4-versus-5 first-round playoff series.
The week concludes with a major cross-conference showdown on March 22 when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Boston Celtics. This game features a marquee individual matchup between Anthony Edwards and Jaylen Brown and carries weight for Minnesota as they attempt to chase down a higher seed in the West.
Additionally, the San Antonio Spurs face the Sacramento Kings on March 17, and the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Golden State Warriors on March 20, with both games having massive implications for the Western Conference playoff bracket.
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.
