The Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA title odds have taken a sharp hit after Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome leg injury against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
- Williams was stretchered off the court after suffering an injury Sunday.
- The Spurs have moved ahead of the Thunder at FanDuel’s NBA championship odds board.
- Williams played just 54 minutes in the seven-game Western Conference Finals against the Spurs last season.
The Thunder won the 2024-25 NBA Finals and finished with the league’s best regular-season record in each of the past two seasons. They came within one game of returning to the championship round before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
Oddsmakers believed that the Thunder and Spurs were clear favorites to win the upcoming title. FanDuel listed the Thunder around +220 entering their weekend matchup with the Clippers, while the Spurs weren’t far behind.
The picture changed Sunday just before midnight ET.
Williams, a 2025 All-Star and third-team All-NBAer, was injured on a drive to the basket with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. As his momentum carried him forward, his left foot appeared to bend at an unnatural angle. He was stretchered off the court as his teammates visibly dealt with the emotional shock of what they had seen.
“We’re not doing great,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said postgame.
NBA championship odds
| Teams | FanDuel odds | DraftKings odds | BetMGM odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | +300 | +295 | +300 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +340 | +295 | +300 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +950 | +950 | +850 |
| New York Knicks | +1,000 | +1,000 | +1,000 |
| Boston Celtics | +1,200 | +1,100 | +1,300 |
| Toronto Raptors | +1,400 | +1,400 | +1,600 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +1,700 | +1,700 | +1,600 |
| Houston Rockets | +2,000 | +2,000 | +2,200 |
| Detroit Pistons | +2,200 | +2,500 | +3,000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2,500 | +2,500 | +3,000 |
Although the extent of Williams' injury remains unknown, the movement in Oklahoma City’s championship odds suggests sportsbooks are accounting for the possibility of a significant absence. The team’s NBA championship odds fell from +220 to +340 at FanDuel, reducing its implied championship probability by about 8.5 percentage points.
Spurs move ahead
Although the Thunder's new odds still give them a 22.7% implied chance of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, they have now fallen behind the Spurs at +300 (25% chance). They are also +185 (35.1% chance) to win the Western Conference, while the Spurs are +165 (37.7% chance).
There’s still a sizable gap between the two West favorites and the rest of the league.
The Philadelphia 76ers, who are off to a 3-1 start in the LeBron James era, lead the chase pack at +950. The defending champion New York Knicks are close behind at +1,000, and the Boston Celtics (+1,200), Toronto Raptors (+1,400), and Minnesota Timberwolves (+1,700) are all in hot pursuit.
Oklahoma City was forced to play without Williams for the majority of its last campaign. He only suited up for 33 of 82 regular-season games, playing a career-low 28.4 minutes per night. He appeared in just five of OKC's 15 playoff games, averaging 21.4 minutes.
Williams played just 54 minutes in the conference finals, yet the Thunder pushed the Spurs to seven games. However, Oklahoma City has since lost established rotation players Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, however, making the team’s depth another factor to watch.
The Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104 on the road in their season opener and won’t face them again until Feb. 11.
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MVP odds race
Although OKC’s title odds have lengthened, they are still expected to again finish with the league's best regular-season record.
Reigning back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+350) is also second in NBA MVP odds, trailing only Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (+220).
