The Indiana Pacers are your NBA Champions! As it stands, they are one of the largest underdogs we’ve had in the last two decades. Indiana Pacers play against the Oklahoma City Thunder with 5-to-1 odds heavily against them. This year’s underdog story recalls the 2004 Detroit Pistons, considered tournament long shots themselves on their way to a title run past the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers.
For all their underdog status, the betting public has backed the Pacers. At BetMGM, a staggering 94% of the money wagered on the Finals series is on Indiana. The massive grassroots support dwarfs the many big-money bets that have been made on the heavily favored Thunder. This illustrates a stark contrast between the betting public’s feelings and the professionals’ betting process.
Oklahoma City marches into Game 1 as a heavy favorite. At 9.5 points, this opening matchup has the third-biggest spread in an opening game over the last 35 years. This hefty line is a testament to the faith that bookmakers have in the Thunder’s ability to handily defeat Indiana.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indy’s explosive young point guard, has burst onto the scene as the Finals MVP favorite. Of the four favorites, he’s got the best odds right now (+700) to win the Finals MVP award. That’s an incredible place to be given the high stakes of the series. Conversely, Oklahoma City point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear favorite at -550 to take home the title. This further illustrates the enormous expectations of him even as an indispensable support player.
From a betting perspective, those wanting to bet on potential Oklahoma City have a high degree of risk. Thus, to make a $100 profit on a bet for the Thunder, you need to bet $700. May the odds be ever in your favor! This high-risk, high-reward scenario only adds to the ambiguity of just what the fate of the series will be.
Christian Cipollini, a trading manager at BetMGM, encapsulated the bookmaker’s perspective on the series when he stated:
“We are cheering against the Indiana Pacers lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.”
As the Finals get underway, all eyes will be on just how these odds translate to the court. The Pacers are primed to prove the doubters wrong and make the most of their underdog role. At the same time, the Thunder work to cement their place as the presumptive favorites.
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