Los Angeles Lakers’ Playoff Exit Sends Betting World Into Meltdown, Bettors Lose Big After Timberwolves Upset

A lot of people have lost money after the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA Playoffs this season. The Lakers were one of the favorite teams to win the NBA championship this season, especially after the shocking Luka Doncic trade a few months ago.

The odds in favor of the Lakers to win the NBA championship surged multifold because of Luka heading to Los Angeles from Dallas. According to the ESPN bet, the Lakers had a 23.9 percent chance to win the title on 2nd February 2025. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who were leading the way, fell to second place with 19.4 percent win probability.

The whole media euphoria around the trade led many NBA fans to believe that the Los Angeles Lakers would dominate all the other teams. The belief became stronger after the 17 time NBA champions witnessed a surge in form. A team which was struggling before February started cleaning up teams comfortably.

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Luka Doncic had a massive impact on the court as well for the Lakers. However, the Bay Area side also lost one of its premier defenders in Anthony Davis. The Los Angeles Lakers already had a shaky defense and with Davis gone, sooner or later, the JJ Redick side would have had their season derailed.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of the Lakers’ vulnerable defense. Anthony Edwards was one of the most consistent players in the NBA Playoffs’ first round. And his athletic driven play tired out the Lakers. A team which was favorite to win the Championship fell out in the first round itself with a 4-1 series loss.

OKC Thunder, Celtics and Cavaliers Lead the Odds

The latest odds for the NBA Championship are in favor of the OKC Thunder. Out of the top 5 contenders, Thunder has a probability of 41 percent. While the Boston Celtics stand at 33.90 percent. They had a rough series with the Orlando Magic, but are one of the favorites due to their consistent winning history.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a 16.67 percent win probability, while the Golden State Warriors are the fourth favorite to win the NBA championship this season. They are tied at 5.26 percent with the Minnesota Timberwolves as well. One of the biggest upsets has been served with the Los Angeles Lakers going out. It is to be seen which other team from the contenders list drops out next.