The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorite in the NBA Northwest Division odds at -650 on DraftKings on October 17, 2026. Denver is second at +900 and Minnesota third at +1100.
The Thunder won the Northwest last season at 64-18, the best record in the NBA. Every other team in the division finished at least 10 games behind them.
NBA Northwest Division odds for 2026-27
| Team | Division odds | Implied chance | Margin removed | Title odds | Western Conference odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -650 | 86.7% | 80.0% | +270 | +140 |
| Denver Nuggets | +900 | 10.0% | 9.2% | +2500 | +1500 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +1100 | 8.3% | 7.7% | +2500 | +1400 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +4500 | 2.2% | 2.0% | +8000 | +4000 |
| Utah Jazz | +9000 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +20000 | +8000 |
These are DraftKings’ 2026-27 prices as ESPN lists them, read on October 17, 2026 at 11:00 UTC: the division, the championship and the Western Conference winner. ESPN files all three markets under its 2027 season, which it names 2026-27. The implied chance is 100 divided by the price plus 100; for a price with a minus sign it is the price divided by the price plus 100, so -650 is 650 divided by 750.
Oklahoma City’s -650 means a $650 bet wins $100, and it breaks even only if the Thunder win the division 86.7% of the time. The five division prices add up to 108.3%, and the 8.3 points above 100 are the book’s margin. With the margin removed the Thunder hold 80.0% of the division, Denver 9.2% and Minnesota 7.7%.
The title board says the same thing at a distance. Oklahoma City shares the top of it with San Antonio, both at +270, and its 27.0% title chance is more than seven times Denver’s or Minnesota’s at +2500. The West market splits the two co-favorites, the Thunder at +140 and the Spurs at +150, and no other Northwest team is shorter than +1400 to win the conference. A futures bet is worth making only when you rate a team’s chance higher than the price does.
How the Northwest finished in 2025-26
| Team | Record | Games behind | How the season ended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 64-18 | – | No. 1 seed in the West; lost 4-3 to San Antonio in the conference finals |
| Denver Nuggets | 54-28 | 10 | No. 3 seed; lost 4-2 to Minnesota in the first round |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 49-33 | 15 | No. 6 seed; lost 4-2 to San Antonio in the second round |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 42-40 | 22 | Won a play-in game, then lost 4-1 to San Antonio |
| Utah Jazz | 22-60 | 42 | Missed the playoffs |
Records are ESPN’s final 2025-26 standings. Four of the five teams reached the postseason, and San Antonio ended the season of three of them.
Utah’s 22-60 left the Jazz 20 games behind fourth-place Portland. It was the division’s only losing record.
Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder outscored opponents by 11.1 points a game, the widest margin in the division by almost six points. They swept Phoenix and the Lakers in the first two rounds, 8-0 in all.
The West finals went the other way. Oklahoma City led San Antonio 3-2 after a 127-114 win in Game 5, then lost Game 6 118-91 and Game 7 111-103. The two teams meet again on opening night, October 20, with the Thunder at San Antonio.
Denver, Minnesota and Portland
The Denver Nuggets finished second at 54-28 and won Game 1 of their first-round series with Minnesota, 116-105. The Minnesota Timberwolves then won four of the next five. Minnesota took Game 1 of the second round at San Antonio’s expense, 104-102, and lost four of the next five.
The title market prices Denver and Minnesota level at +2500, and the division market separates them: Denver +900, Minnesota +1100. The Portland Trail Blazers went 42-40 and reached the playoffs through the play-in, beating Phoenix 114-110, before San Antonio beat them 4-1. They are +4500 to win the Northwest.
The Utah Jazz won 22 games and lost by 8.4 points a game. They are +9000 for the division and +20000 for the title. Utah opens at Memphis on October 21, the same night Minnesota plays at Miami and Portland hosts Phoenix. Denver’s first game is at Oklahoma City on October 22.
Recent Northwest Division winners
| Season | Winner | Record | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 64-18 | Denver Nuggets, 54-28 |
| 2024-25 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 68-14 | Denver Nuggets, 50-32 |
| 2023-24 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 57-25 | Denver Nuggets, 57-25 |
Oklahoma City has finished first three seasons running, and Denver second each time. In 2023-24 the two tied at 57-25, and ESPN’s standings rank the Thunder first.
Across the three seasons Oklahoma City won 189 games, 28 more than Denver. That is 63 a season.
The 2026-27 calendar
- Preseason: from September 30, 2026.
- Regular season: October 20, 2026 to April 11, 2027.
- Play-in tournament: from April 12, 2027.
- Playoffs: from April 17, 2027.
The division is decided by the regular-season standings, so it is settled by April 11. Game predictions for every Northwest team appear on our NBA predictions hub once lines are posted, and the full title board is on our NBA championship odds page.
The number to watch is Oklahoma City’s -650. Of the six division favorites, only San Antonio, at -1000 in the Southwest, is shorter.