LeBron James' move to Philadelphia makes 76ers the betting favorite out of the East

LAS VEGAS (AP) — LeBron James might have shifted the power in the Eastern Conference — and perhaps the NBA in general — when he ended eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with Philadelphia.

The 76ers are consensus favorites — from 8-1 to 9-1 odds — in the East to win it all, even ahead of the defending champion New York Knicks.

“I’m a Sixers fan, so I was very thrilled about it myself,” BetMGM Sportsbook trader Christian Cipollini said of King James going to Philadelphia. “Far and away, our most bet-on team, far and away our biggest liability (among contending teams)."

How much James has left at age 41 will be a big question as the NBA season opens Tuesday, but he remained among the league's top players last season in LA.

And he's not the only reason for high hopes in Philadelphia. The Sixers also added Jaylen Brown in a marquee trade with Boston.

But Joel Embiid's health could put a major dent in any championship plans. The seven-time All-Star has played in fewer than 40 games each of the past three seasons.

“I think it’s more Embiid, keeping him in one piece, that's going to be the key for them more than LeBron," longtime handicapper Bruce Marshall said. "It sort of all goes through him, and that’s been tough for Philly.”

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks overcame the odds to win the title last season, and they will have to do it again if they are to repeat.

Other than DraftKings Sportsbook, where they are 9-1 with the Sixers among Eastern teams to win the title, the Knicks sit just behind Philadelphia at BetMGM (10-1) and Caesars Sportsbook (9-1).

“Just with the hype of Philly and LeBron going there, it's just been more 76ers money than Knicks money,” Caesars NBA oddsmaker David Lieberman said. “It's so hard to repeat, but obviously their run was so dominant in the postseason, it's hard to doubt them until they (actually) lose in the playoffs.”

San Antonio and Oklahoma City are co-favorites at BetMGM (+260) and DraftKings (+270), with the Spurs at +270, just a touch ahead of the Thunders at +280 at Caesars.

Both teams were in similar positions at the end of last season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder looking to repeat and the young Spurs led by Victor Wembanyama playing as well as any team in the league.

The Spurs beat the Thunder in seven games to advance to the NBA Finals before losing in five games to the Knicks.

“The Spurs look like they're probably the team to beat in the West,” Marshall said. “So I think that's probably the way it goes, and it might be that way for a while.”

Though the Western Conference has long been the NBA's best and deepest, times could be changing, even with the two favorites being on that side of the bracket.

After the Spurs and Thunder, the next five teams — depending on the sportsbook — reside in the East.

“Outside the top two teams, I think the East has more maybe viable candidates,” Lieberman said. “It's almost like you can pretty much write down the 11 teams that make the playoffs maybe in both conferences. But given there's no tanking incentives anymore, there could be a couple of surprise teams that make it in one of the conferences.”

Indiana was in the NBA Finals just two seasons ago, its chances all but going up in smoke when Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 against OKC.

Now he's back, but the Pacers are 35-1 across the board to win the championship.

“I think the East is stronger than a couple of years ago, and it would be tougher for them to do it,” Marshall said. “This is sort of the year it's got to happen. They've got a lot of guys coming up on free agency, so we'll see. Most of the guys are there that were on it a couple of years ago. If Haliburton hadn't gotten hurt, I thought they could've won that last game.”

Few expect Utah to be a true contender this season, but there is optimism the Jazz could be on the way back with recent high draft picks Ace Bailey and Darryn Peterson and a core that includes Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.

“I feel like there’s times where a team can make really big jumps,” Cipollini said. “The Jazz could be one of those, and just looking at the bets that were coming in, of the unrealistic teams to win, certainly the most amount of bets and one of our highest liability.”

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, second from right, goes up to shoot over Milwaukee Bucks center Kel'el Ware (9) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks to shoot over Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in San Antonio, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) looks to pass away from Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl (19) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James, left, goes up for a shot against Boston Celtics' Chris Cenac Jr. during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Freddy Peralta threw 5 1/3 gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons.

The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals.

Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years.

On the 18-year anniversary of their first AL pennant in 2008, the Rays jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning on Richie Palacios’ two-run double and clinched it with closer Bryan Baker on the mound.

The Guardians wouldn’t give up and had the go-ahead run at first base in the eighth when Kevin Kelly struck out Brayan Rocchio to leave the bases loaded after two runs scored.

Peralta allowed one run and five hits to earn his second win in the ALCS in his third appearance. He threw six scoreless innings to win Game 2 and got two outs in relief in Game 4.

A sellout crowd of 40,230 fans waved yellow-and-blue rally towels, rang cowbells and chanted “Let’s go Rays!” throughout the night at Tropicana Field, which needed major renovations after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof two years ago and caused extensive damage throughout the stadium.

The Rays played their 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex, got new ownership before this season and secured a new stadium deal to bear ready in 2029 near the NFL’s Buccaneers. They returned to the Trop to win 55 games in the regular season. Only Milwaukee had that many home wins this year.

After sweeping the Yankees in the Division Series, the Rays fell behind the Guardians 0-1 and 1-2 in this series before taking three straight games.

Caminero gave Tampa Bay a cushion with his first career postseason homer in the seventh inning. The two-time All-Star sent a drive off the left-field foul pole to give the Rays a 5-1 lead, becoming the first player to go deep on a splitter by All-Star closer Cade Smith.

Caminero turned around before reaching first base, looked toward his dugout and pounded his chest with both arms, cupped his ear rounding second to hear more cheers, stopped before reaching the plate, pointed into the stands and crossed his arms before crossing home.

Caminero hit 42 homers in the regular season but needed 33 at-bats to get his first in October.

The Guardians answered against Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour by loading the bases on two singles and a walk with two outs. Seymour walked Patrick Bailey to force in one run and hit Angel Martínez with a pitch to force in another. Kelly entered and fanned Rocchio on three changeups.

Díaz, who guaranteed a Game 6 victory through an interpreter on Sunday, gave the Rays a four-run lead with a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth.

Caminero led off Tampa Bay’s second with single off opener Shawn Armstrong, who took the loss in his second start in three games. Left-hander Tim Herrin replaced Armstrong. Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before Victor Mesa Jr. walked. Simpson advanced to third on Jonny DeLuca’s flyout to center. After Mesa stole second, Palacios looped a double to right-center for a 2-0 lead.

Armstrong, who was the opener in Game 4, faced the first four batters, becoming the first pitcher in postseason history to start a game after pitching both of the previous two days.

DeLuca’s sacrifice fly off Joey Cantillo made it 3-0 in the third but the Rays missed an opportunity to break it open with more runs after they loaded the bases with no outs.

Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single in the sixth drove in Cleveland’s first run.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero scores past Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey sacrifice fly during the third inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cam Booser celebrates the third out in the against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero scores past Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey sacrifice fly during the third inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)