Denver Nuggets, Timberwolves Top Bets to Upset Favored Thunder in NBA Finals

Nuggets and Timberwolves offer best value to take down the defending champion Thunder

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites to win the 2026 NBA Finals, but the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves present the best value bets to potentially upset the defending champions. The Nuggets, led by superstar Nikola Jokic, pushed the Thunder to a Game 7 in last year's playoffs and are a healthier team this season. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances and boast a talented roster led by Anthony Edwards that could cause problems for the Thunder.

Why it matters

The Thunder are the clear favorites, but the NBA has a history of top seeds failing to win the title. Finding the right underdog bet could pay off big for bettors, and the Nuggets and Timberwolves appear to be the teams best positioned to knock off the champions.

The details

The Nuggets are currently listed at +600 on FanDuel to win the NBA Finals, making them the third choice behind the Thunder (+130) and Boston Celtics (+1300). Denver pushed the Thunder to a Game 7 in last year's playoffs and have a healthier roster this season, led by MVP-caliber center Nikola Jokic. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are listed at +3500 on DraftKings, offering tremendous value. Minnesota has made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances and has a talented roster led by star guard Anthony Edwards that could give the Thunder trouble.

  • The 2026 NBA Finals are scheduled to take place in June 2026.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets' star center and one of the best players in the NBA.

Anthony Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves' star guard and one of the league's top young players.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The defending NBA champions and the heavy favorites to win the 2026 title.

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What’s next

The 2026 NBA playoffs will begin in April 2026, with the Finals scheduled for June.

The takeaway

The Thunder may be the favorites, but the Nuggets and Timberwolves present intriguing value bets to potentially upset the defending champions. Both teams have the talent and experience to challenge the Thunder, making them worthy of consideration for bettors looking for a big payout.