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Christopher Boan writes for BetOhio.com and has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, with experience at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
NBA Cup 2025: Expert Odds & Predictions for Every Group Winner
For the third straight year, the NBA will hold an in-season tournament, with the 2025 NBA Cup pitting each of the 30 teams in the association against each other. This edition at Ohio sportsbooks sees the league broken down into three, five-team pods in each conference.
With the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks winning the first two editions of the NBA’s in-season tournament, it begs the question of which franchise will bring home the hardware when the event wraps up in Las Vegas on Dec. 16. With that in mind, BetOhio.com broke down the odds on which teams have the best chance of making it through each of the six groups in this year’s NBA Cup and potentially joining the Lakers and Bucks in NBA lore.
Predicting the Cleveland Cavaliers' Success in NBA Cup Group A
Team | Odds |
Cleveland Cavaliers | +180 |
Atlanta Hawks | +450 |
Indiana Pacers | +600 |
Toronto Raptors | +1200 |
Washington Wizards | +2000 |
Disclaimer: These odds were developed by and are exclusive to BetOhio.com, but regulated operators offering top Ohio sportsbook promos will offer wagers on each NBA game, plus futures betting and more.
A year after winning the club’s most regular season games since going 66-16 in 2008-09 under then-head coach Mike Brown, it seems like the future’s bright for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Eastern Conference mainstays ranking atop our Group A odds board in this year’s NBA Cup by a healthy margin. Overall, we have head coach Kenny Atkinson and company at +180 to advance out of their NBA Cup group, ranking well ahead of the Atlanta Hawks (+450), Indiana Pacers (+600), Toronto Raptors (+1200) and Washington Wizards (+2000).
Over at DraftKings Ohio, the Cavaliers currently hold the second best NBA Cup odds, at +700, ranking behind the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who check in at +320, showing how well oddsmakers expect Atkinson’s team to play this season.
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Orlando Magic Lead East Group B Odds for NBA Cup 2025
Team | Odds |
Orlando Magic | +220 |
Philadelphia 76ers | +280 |
Boston Celtics | +350 |
Detroit Pistons | +550 |
Brooklyn Nets | +1800 |
Over in Group B, we expect a bit more parity, with the reigning Southeast Division champion Orlando Magic sitting as a slight favorite ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, with the Magic checking in at +220, while the Sixers (+280) and Celtics (+350) are close behind.
Two more up-and-coming teams, in the Detroit Pistons (+550) and Brooklyn Nets (+1800) round out our Group B board in the East, as the former looks to reach the postseason again in 2026 after snapping the club’s six-year postseason drought in 2025, while the Nets are hoping to improve on last year’s dismal 26-56 finish in the year ahead.
New York Knicks Favored in Competitive East Group C
Team | Odds |
New York Knicks | +150 |
Milwaukee Bucks | +250 |
Miami Heat | +480 |
Chicago Bulls | +900 |
Charlotte Hornets | +1900 |
The third and final group in the NBA’s Eastern Conference sees the reigning NBA Cup champs go up against the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, with Mike Brown’s newest employer ranking atop our Group C odds board.
That’s because we have the Knickerbockers at +150 to win Group C after going 51-31 and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999-2000, while the Bucks (+250), Heat (+480), Bulls (+900) and Hornets (+1900) round out the list in 2025.
Of the five, the Knicks had the best season in 2024-25, wins wise, with three more victories than the Bucks and 12 more than the next closest team in Group C (that being the 39-43 Bulls), as Brown and company look to build some early season momentum in this year’s NBA Cup.
Oklahoma City Thunder Dominate West Group A NBA Cup Odds
Team | Odds |
Oklahoma City Thunder | -120 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | +200 |
Sacramento Kings | +700 |
Phoenix Suns | +800 |
Utah Jazz | +2000 |
Over in the West, we have perhaps the most one-sided odds board in this year’s NBA Cup, with the reigning champions from Oklahoma City expected to roll through Group A after going 68-14 and knocking off the Pacers in seven games to capture the club’s first title since moving to the Sooner State in 2025.
Overall, we have the Thunder at -120 to win Group A, ranking well ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves (+200), Sacramento Kings (+700), Phoenix Suns (+800) and Utah Jazz (+2000), building on last year’s historic run in Bricktown and setting out to bring home another piece of hardware in the new league year across Ohio betting apps.
Lakers, Mavericks Lead West Group B Odds
Team | Odds |
Los Angeles Lakers | +160 |
Dallas Mavericks | +220 |
Los Angeles Clippers | +280 |
Memphis Grizzlies | +900 |
New Orleans Pelicans | +1000 |
In Group B, we’re going with LeBron James and the Lakers to stave off 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks in this year’s NBA Cup clash, with L.A. checking in at +160 to win the group, while Dallas sits at +220.
Throw in the Los Angeles Clippers at +280, Memphis Grizzlies at +900 and the New Orleans Pelicans at +1000 and you have the Group B odds board covered in this year’s event, though we’re expecting LeBron and Luka to stave off an upset bid by Doncic’s former employer in 2025.
Houston Rockets Emerge as Favorites in West Group C NBA Cup 2025
Team | Odds |
Houston Rockets | +150 |
Denver Nuggets | +180 |
Golden State Warriors | +250 |
San Antonio Spurs | +550 |
Portland Trail Blazers | +2000 |
Finally, we’re going with one of the NBA’s fastest rising teams to win out in Group C out West, with the Houston Rockets entering the year with +150 odds of finishing atop the four-team collective in 2025. Overall, Ime Udoka’s bunch stand just ahead of the Denver Nuggets in the Group C race, with the 2023 NBA champs sitting at +180, while the Golden State Warriors are third overall at +250 on our odds board.
A year after going 52-30, it seems like the Rockets are considered one of the frontrunners to capture the third installment of the NBA Cup, with DraftKings Sportsbook giving the Lone Star State franchise +900 odds of winning the event, ranking third overall by that metric.
While the Rockets are our preseason favorite in Group C, keep an eye on another Texas franchise, in the San Antonio Spurs, who check in at +550 to win Group C in 2025, while the Portland Trail Blazers round out the list at +2000, putting a bow on the six groups that make up this year’s NBA Cup competition.
USA Today photo by Candice Ward.
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