The Cleveland Cavaliers start as the betting favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship during the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Cavaliers came up short as the No. 1 seed in the East in 2025, losing in Round 2 to the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers eventually made it to the NBA Finals before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Get the current NBA odds for the Eastern Conference championship in 2026:
Odds to Win 2026 Eastern Conference Championship
Who Will Win the East in 2026?
According to the updated NBA betting lines, Cleveland is projected to win the Eastern Conference finals in 2026. The Cavaliers are +275 to win the East for the first time since 2018.
Despite a second-round exit last postseason, the Cavs are deserving favorites in a conference that will be missing some of its top-end talent.
Both the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics (the last two East winners) will be without their best players next season. The New York Knicks will be replacing their head coach following last season’s conference finals loss.
The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks have entered the conversation after some aggressive trades in the offseason, but there will likely be a transition period for both teams.
That leaves a Cleveland squad that won 64 games last year. The Cavs’ core remains intact entering Year 2 of the Kenny Atkinson era. Could it lead to the first conference championship without LeBron James in franchise history?
Past Eastern Conference Winners
| Year | Team | Preseason Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Pacers | +2500 |
| 2024 | Celtics | +175 |
| 2023 | Heat | +800 |
| 2022 | Celtics | +2000 |
| 2021 | Bucks | +220 |
| 2020 | Heat | +2200 |
| 2019 | Raptors | +375 |
| 2018 | Cavaliers | -165 |
| 2017 | Cavaliers | -208 |
| 2016 | Cavaliers | -230 |
| 2015 | Cavaliers | -115 |
| 2014 | Heat | -120 |
| 2013 | Heat | -137 |
| 2012 | Heat | -110 |
| 2011 | Heat | -143 |
| 2010 | Celtics | +200 |
| 2009 | Magic | +1000 |
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