Heading into the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder were unprecedented favorites in the betting world. Yet, after a surprising loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 on their home turf, they now face the potential of a notorious betting record that nobody wants to achieve.
Initially, the Thunder had -800 odds at BetMGM Sportsbook for winning the championship as Game 1 of the NBA Finals began. These odds were among the top five shortest odds in the history of the NBA to win the title. Historically, every team that has started with -800 odds or shorter has secured the championship.
However, after their Game 1 defeat, the Thunder’s odds have dropped to -350 at BetMGM Sportsbook. If you’re looking for slightly better odds, they’re listed at -300 at DraftKings.
On the other hand, the Pacers started the series at +500 at DraftKings and have now improved to +245. Considering that 70.5% of teams winning Game 1 in the NBA Finals history (55 out of 88) have gone on to win the championship, these odds might seem rather dismissive.
It’s noteworthy though, that road teams winning Game 1 have a mixed record over the past 30 years, standing at 3-4. The most recent instance was when the Celtics won Game 1 on the road against the Warriors in 2022, only for the Warriors to claim the series 4-2.
In NBA history, only the 2004 Pistons have clinched the NBA Finals with odds of +500 or greater. The Pacers are now poised to match or even surpass the Pistons as the biggest underdog to win the title should they triumph in these finals.
Already, the Thunder have created an undesirable piece of NBA Finals betting history by losing Game 1 as they were the first team favored by six or more points to lose the game; they had odds of -9 at DraftKings.
Despite this setback, bookmakers are still favoring the Thunder heavily in Game 2, with DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbooks marking them as -11 point favorites, and BetMGM listing them at -11.5 points.
Before considering a bet on the Thunder, it’s worth noting that the Pacers have a strong record of 12-5 against the spread when they are underdogs, including eight outright victories.
The Thunder previously lost Game 1 at home against the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals but managed to win that series in seven games. However, the Pacers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and capability in these playoffs, overcoming significant challenges and executing pivotal plays to defeat favored teams.
One of these impressive streaks will come to an end in this year’s Finals, which are proving to be historically intriguing from the start.
As a newcomer to BetMGM, you can now secure up to $1,500 in bonus bets by registering an account using the BetMGM bonus code SI1500, depositing a minimum of $10, and placing a real-money wager. If your bet doesn’t win, BetMGM will reimburse your stake in the form of bonus bets.
Betting odds may update periodically and are subject to changes.
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