Lakers vs. Thunder NBA Playoffs Series Futures Betting Markets

The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they might sneak out of the first round with a surprise sweep. But they played with their food and nearly needed seven to get by the similarly short-handed Houston Rockets. L.A. won’t have Luka Doncic for the start of this second round series with the defending-NBA champion OKC Thunder, and he has “no timetable for return.”

The Thunder, meanwhile, bulldozed the Phoenix Suns in a first round sweep. They will look to do the same to the Lakers, but will LeBron James allow that? This could very well be his last season, and he’d surely hate to go out while being swept. Read on for our best bets and top NBA betting odds on the most fun futures betting markets for this second round playoff showdown.

No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder - NBA Western Conference Semifinals Futures - May 3

All odds provided by Betway.

Series Schedule:

• Game 1 - LAL @ OKC, May 5, 8:30PM
• Game 2 - LAL @ OKC, May 7, 9:30PM
• Game 3 - OKC @ LAL, May 9, 8:30PM
• Game 4 - OKC @ LAL, May 11, 10:30PM
• Game 5 - LAL @ OKC, May 13 (TBD)
• Game 6 - OKC @ LAL, May 16 (TBD)
• Game 7 - LAL @ OKC, May 18 (TBD)

Lakers vs. Thunder “Series Result” Futures Betting Markets

The Lakers would have done well for their 41-year-old superstar to win that Rockets series in four games rather than six. But alas, LeBron James was forced to play two extra. And with Luka Doncic nowhere near a return, that means big trouble for the King and his Lakers. The Thunder will win this series, the only question is by how many. And while we don’t have much confidence in L.A., we do think they can best OKC’s first-round opponent, the Suns, and avoid a sweep.

Best Bet: Series Total Games Over 4.5 (-140)

Lakers vs. Thunder “Series Correct Score” Futures Betting Market

The reason we believe they will avoid a sweep is pretty simple: LeBron James. This could be his final season, and going out with a sweep would be very sour indeed. Not only that, but LeBron has been allergic to sweeps for nearly his entire career. He has played in 56 playoff series, and he has only been swept thrice: once in the 2007 NBA Finals against the dominant Spurs dynasty, once in 2018 against the juggernaut Kevin Durant Warriors, and once in 2023 against the eventual champion Nuggets.

James has been eliminated from the playoffs four times with the Lakers, and just once has it come by sweep. Also of note: the Thunder have swept their first round opponent in each of the last three straight postseasons, but they have not swept any of their other four playoff series during that time.

Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder To Win 4-1 (+205)

Lakers vs. Thunder “Most X In Series” Futures Betting Market

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was scoring at will as usual in the first round, averaging 33.8 points. However, he was also sharing the ball a lot more than usual, averaging 8.0 assists per game and leading the series with 32 overall. LeBron James had 50 across six games in Round 1, but we have a feeling that with his back against the wall, he’s going to try and push himself to pick up more of the scoring burden left by Doncic’s absence. SGA is offering the value at +130 as well.

Austin Reaves returned for the final two games of that first round series against the Rockets, and he looked solid in Game 6, going 7-for-14 from the field for 15 points. Reaves will have the green light in this series, and he’s one of just two players (OKC guard Isaiah Joe) in this series who averaged 2+ triples per game during the regular season.

And with Joe seeing limited minutes in Round 1, it seems the title of three-point leader for this series is Reaves’ to lose. And he’s offering +180 odds, which probably has something to do with Reaves shooting 2-for-12 from deep in those two games against Houston. But now that he’s back in rhythm, he should find his long-range shooting quickly.
 
Best Bet:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Most Assists (+130)
• Austin Reaves Most Three-Pointers Made (+180)