For 17 seasons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been synonymous with hope, heartbreak, and hunger. In 2025, all that pent-up longing erupted into euphoria. Facing down the Cinderella story of the Indiana Pacers, OKC outlasted, outwilled, and ultimately outplayed their foes in a nerve-shredding, seven-game Finals classic—grabbing the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in franchise history.
Fast forward to November 2025, and the reigning champions have slammed the door on any notion of a championship hangover. At 10-1, they aren’t just winning—they’re overwhelming the competition. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is dissecting defenses, continuing in the form that saw him average 32 points per game last year. Chet Holmgren leads a defensive brigade that swarms with energy, while Jalen Williams, now healthy, is ramping up his two-way assault.
OKC returns over 99% of its playoff minutes, and their opening weeks suggest they aren’t just the team to beat—they are the new gold standard. But don’t just take our words for it; take that of the betting sites. The latest NBA betting at Bovada odds currently list the Thunder as a short-priced +230 favorite to repeat as champions, well clear of the chasing pack. But which teams are at the head of said chasing pack, and which of them have the best chance of ending the champs’ repeat hopes this season?
Denver Nuggets
If there’s a team engineered to blunt OKC’s electric, transition-heavy attack, it’s the Denver Nuggets. After falling in a bitter seven-game series to the Thunder last spring, Denver (7-2) has punched back—hard. Nikola Jokić, the fulcrum of Denver’s ambitions, is again warping reality: six triple-doubles in nine games, averages north of 25 points, 13 rebounds, and nearly 12 assists per night. His dominance inside is matched by his orchestration on the perimeter—forcing defenses into impossible choices.
Under new coach David Adelman, Denver has built a top-five offense rich in half-court sophistication. Jamal Murray (22.8 PPG) detonated for 40 in Week 1, while sharpshooting additions Cam Johnson (39% from three) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (11.4 PPG off the bench) add the spacing Denver so badly needed against OKC’s length last postseason. Jonas Valančiūnas (4.8 offensive rebounds per game) is swallowing boards and giving Jokić precious moments to rest—no small detail in a projected 7-game war.
Turnover margin will be key (Jokić 3.1 per game vs. OKC’s pressure), but the Nuggets have exorcised many of last year’s demons. Their depth, tactical balance, and Jokić’s generational playmaking could force OKC’s vulnerabilities into the spotlight—setting the stage for a titanic Western rematch that might flip the outcome from a year ago.
Nikola Jokic’s last 2 games:
32-14-14 (31 mins)
26-9-9 (28 mins)Shot 22/29 (76%) combined in both games.
NBA regular season MVP odds:
SGA +180
Luka +350
Joker +350 👀 pic.twitter.com/MG1Llr5WcB— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) November 10, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers (7-3) are no strangers to defensive masterpieces, but this season, they’ve elevated stinginess to religion—boasting the league’s No. 1 defense, top-10 second chance points, and the fewest turnovers per game in the NBA. The twin towers of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen turn the paint into a no-fly zone: opponents are shooting well below league average at the rim, and Chet Holmgren’s finesse has rarely faced such resistance. Their switch-heavy schemes are designed to stifle the very dribble penetration that fuels OKC’s attack.
But Cleveland is not just a bruising wall of resistance. Donovan Mitchell (up to 46 points in high-leverage contests) is detonating defenses with alpha scorer audacity. Darius Garland, back from injury, has recalibrated the offense with surgical passes and a 9-assist outing against Washington. De’Andre Hunter’s rapid-fire integration—29 points in critical stretches—has absorbed the loss of Max Strus and given Cleveland new versatility on the wing.
Coached by Kenny Atkinson—a tactician who’s orchestrated 12-0 closing runs and health-focused resurgence—this Cavs team grinds opponents into submission and then pounces. They project for 60+ wins and have the personnel to turn a Finals showdown against OKC into an old-school, attritional chess match. If anyone can drag the Oklahoma City Thunder into the mud and escape with the crown, it’s this defensive monster.
Los Angeles Lakers
Ignore the early injury headaches—because when healthy, the Lakers (8-3) are an offensive sledgehammer. Luka Dončić, already a perennial MVP candidate, opened the campaign with a 43-point masterpiece and torched Charlotte for 38. Austin Reaves’ 40-point Week 1 rampaged onto highlight reels, and Rui Hachimura is turning third quarters into his personal showcase.
Even as LeBron James missed four games, Los Angeles rattled off four consecutive wins. JJ Redick’s system is all about pace, space, and punishing mistakes: seventh in offense, second in effective field goal percentage, and among the NBA’s top three in field goal percentage (just ahead of the Thunder).
But it’s L.A.’s resilience and depth that spell real danger for OKC. DeAndre Ayton has been a double-double machine; Marcus Smart is bullying opposing guards and generating turnovers. Sure, the Lakers’ defense still sits 18th in the league, but with elite free-throw shooting (crucial in late-game playoff possessions) and a battle-forged core, they possess the experience to win ugly or outgun anyone. If the basketball gods grant LeBron full health for another run—and, with Dončić in sublime form—the Lakers could engineer a thrilling, high-octane Finals and win him that elusive “legacy ring.”
