NBA Eastern Conference Winner Predictions & Odds: Cavaliers and Knicks Overtake Traditional Powers

• The Detroit Pistons have shocked the league by seizing the best record in the Eastern Conference (19-5) following a dominant stretch.

• The New York Knicks (16-7) and Cleveland Cavaliers (14-11) have stabilized as the primary betting favorites to win the conference (odds between +300 and +360).

• The Boston Celtics (15-9) have defied their "gap year" expectations by winning five straight games and jumping into the top three seeds.

NBA Eastern Conference Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Use our promo code WSNSPORTS to sign up for a BetMGM account and claim the following bonus offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

Rest of the teams listed at +10000 odds and higher.

NBA Eastern Conference Winner - My Pick

Cleveland Cavaliers (+360) at BetMGM Sportsbook

The Cleveland Cavaliers offer the best combination of proven talent, health, and value in a conference where traditional powers are faltering. While currently sitting with a 14-11 record, they are stabilizing as a co-favorite (odds around +333 to +360) alongside the Knicks, largely because the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are dealing with significant issues (Tatum's injury, Bucks' losing record).

The Cavaliers' core of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley (a DPOY contender), and Darius Garland remains intact and efficient, having proven their ceiling with a 64-win season the prior year. This continuity, paired with a top-tier defensive foundation, makes them the safest, highest-upside bet to navigate the weakened East and reach the NBA Finals.

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How to Bet on the NBA Eastern Conference Winner

Start by visiting BetMGM or your favorite sportsbook. Navigate to the NBA page, where there will be a tab labeled “Futures”. Simply scroll down until you see the “2025/26 NBA: Futures” section. You will find odds to win both conferences available there.

We always recommend spending time researching NBA future bets, especially for conference winners. Placing bets early can provide the best odds, but it also makes winning even harder. Spending some time doing your homework will increase your chances of winning and help build better betting habits.

How to Read NBA Eastern Conference Winner Odds 

Reading the odds for the NBA Eastern Conference winner is a quick and straightforward process.

When reading odds from a sportsbook, you’ll see numbers with a (+) or (-) in front of them. The plus sign means that you will win the number after it when betting $100. If the number has a minus sign, you need to bet that amount to win $100. 

Where to Bet on the NBA Eastern Conference Winner

We prefer to use BetMGM Sportsbook when betting on the NBA Eastern Conference winner. The Vegas-based gambling giant offers one of the best betting experiences in the industry, bringing Vegas-style betting straight to your phone, tablet, or computer. All new users who sign up with BetMGM with our WSNSPORTS can claim the following welcome offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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NBA Eastern Conference Winner History

The East has been viewed as the lesser NBA conference for a long time, making it hard to pick a winner since LeBron James left the Cavaliers. Below are the previous ten winners of the NBA Eastern Conference.