Odds are, Golden State isn’t going to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record for wins in a season. But now at 23-0, the Warriors can no longer be considered a long shot to reach 73.
As of Wednesday morning, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has Golden State as a +130 underdog to become the winningest team in NBA history. That’s down substantially in a relatively short period of time.
“It’s been like 90 percent one-way action on the ‘yes’,” said Jeff Sherman, assistant manager of the SuperBook. “It was at 5-to-1 when we opened a few weeks ago, now we’re down to where it’s almost a pick ’em.”
Golden State extended its record-setting start to the season with a 131-123 win over Indiana on Tuesday. That’s the best open to an NBA season in league history, and dating back to last spring’s finals, the Warriors have now won 26 straight, which ties the 2012-13 Miami Heat for the second-longest winning streak in NBA history. The 1971-72 Lakers hold the record with 33 consecutive wins.
But no team other than the Michael Jordan-led Bulls, who went 72-10 and won the 1996 title, has ever eclipsed 70 wins in a season. Chicago was 21-2 through its first 23 games in 1995.
Last season, Golden State won 67 and claimed the title in six games over Cleveland. The Cavaliers opened as the favorites to take the 2016 crown, but have been surpassed by the Warriors, who are now listed at 6-5.
Sherman said the support behind the Warriors is typical, but as the line on 73 wins creeps down, betting patterns are starting to change.
“Anytime you put these kinds of things up—just like when we had the Patriots to go 16-0—we saw mostly yes support. Same thing with the Panthers. You don’t find too often people that like to lay the big price; they tend to bet smaller amounts where they can get 4- or 5-to-1.
“Basically, in the last few days, when we’ve had it at +240 or less, we’re starting to see more two-way action on it. We’re still seeing yes, but we’re also starting to see the no support.”