NBA Cup Odds 2025: Thunder Favored to Win In-Season Tournament
The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the NBA Cup odds entering the 2025-26 regular season after coming up just short in the In-Season Tournament a year ago.
Trailing the Thunder are the Cleveland Cavaliers (+800), New York Knicks (+1000), Houston Rockets (+1300), and Denver Nuggets (+1400) as the top five teams with the shortest odds to win the trophy in Las Vegas in December.
I'm breaking down the NBA Cup odds and offering my best bet as part of our NBA picks.
📊 Live NBA Cup odds 2025
Our 2026 NBA Cup odds update in real time based on the latest NBA odds.
🏆 NBA Cup odds favorite
⚡ Thunder (+450)
Oklahoma City, also the NBA championship odds favorite, is looking to not only go back-to-back as NBA champions but also eyes redemption in the In-Season Tournament after losing last year's championship game to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Thunder are the league's most talented team heading into the 2025-26 campaign, with NBA MVP odds leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way alongside All-Star Jalen Williams and emerging big Chet Holmgren.
Beyond its Big Three, OKC has the deepest supporting cast of versatile contributors. The Thunder can beat you in a variety of ways, especially in the friendly confines of Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
The good news for other teams looking to win the In-Season Tournament is that you only have to beat OKC once in the knockout round rather than four-of-seven in a playoff series.
The Thunder's +450 odds at Caesars translate to a 18.18% implied probability. A successful $10 bet would net $45 in profit.
👀 My NBA Cup prediction & best bet
🗡️ Cavaliers (+800)
Apart from having a skilled roster, what makes the Cavaliers a great bet to win the NBA Cup is their team continuity and what should be a high level of drive in the early portion of the campaign.
Cleveland is coming off the second-best regular season in franchise history, finishing with 66 wins and the East's No. 1 seed. But the Cavs should be hungry after a second-round playoff letdown at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, losing in five games to the eventual Eastern Conference champions.
Donovan Mitchell and Co. haven't won anything as a team. The NBA Cup is no Larry O'Brien Trophy, but Cleveland will want something to show for its efforts on the way to its ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship.
Mitchell and Darius Garland form one of the league's top backcourts alongside an elite frontcourt featuring reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
The roster beyond the stars looks mostly the same following the offseason, apart from taking a flier on Lonzo Ball while losing talented bench scorer Ty Jerome.
That team continuity is crucial to making an In-Season Tournament bet, considering the tournament takes place in the first few months of the new season. The Cavs won't have any growing pains, which makes them a true NBA Cup contender this year.
A $10 bet on Cleveland at +800 odds would net a $80 profit with an implied probability of 11.11%, according to our odds calculator.
🔢 NBA Cup opening odds
Odds via FanDuel.
- Thunder: +450
- Knicks: +550
- Cavaliers: +600
- Magic: +1100
- Nuggets: +1200
- Hawks: +1300
- Rockets: +1300
- Timberwolves: +2000
- Lakers: +2100
- Pistons: +2100
- 76ers: +2200
- Warriors: +2300
- Clippers: +2500
- Celtics: +2700
- Bucks: +3100
- Heat: +4500
- Pacers: +4500
- Spurs: +5000
- Raptors: +7500
- Grizzlies: +8000
- Mavericks: +8000
- Bulls: +9000
- Kings: +10000
- Suns: +12000
- Pelicans: +12500
- Hornets: +13000
- Trail Blazers: +25000
- Wizards: +26000
- Nets: +35000
- Jazz: +50000
❓ NBA Cup FAQs
Who is the NBA Cup favorite?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Cup at +450 odds. That implies a 18.18% probability.
Who won the NBA Cup last season?
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 to win the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup.
How does the NBA In-Season Tournament work?
All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2024-25 regular season.
Beginning Oct. 31 and continuing through Nov. 28, each team will play four designated group stage games on “Cup Nights” – one game against each opponent in its group. Two games will be played at home and two on the road.
Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the team with the best standing in group stage games in each of the six groups and two “wild cards."
The knockout rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10). The semifinals and championship will be played in Las Vegas on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16, respectively.
What do you get for winning the NBA In-Season Tournament?
The teams will compete for a prize pool and the NBA Cup championship trophy.
When will the NBA Cup be decided?
The 2025 NBA In-Season Tournament will finish with the championship game on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
Do NBA In-Season Tournament games count toward team records?
All 67 games across both stages of the NBA Cup will count toward the regular season standings except the championship.
Each team will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2025-26 season, including those games that are part of group play and the knockout rounds.
💰 NBA betting odds pages
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Related Articles
