Nuggets, NBA bets
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The Denver Nuggets gave bettors one of the NBA’s strongest season-long returns, according to a new Sports Illustrated study examining team profitability.
Researchers calculated what would happen if someone placed the same $100 wager on a team to win every game of the regular season. Following Denver throughout its 54-28 campaign would have generated $1,477.84 in profit, good for an 18.02% return on investment.
Only the San Antonio Spurs produced more money under the model. Their 62-20 record resulted in $2,352.84 in earnings and a 28.69% ROI, placing them comfortably ahead of Denver.
Nuggets outpace two 60-win teams
Denver’s placement becomes more notable when compared with teams that recorded more victories. The Detroit Pistons finished 60-22 but ranked third with $1,273.05 in profit and a 15.53% ROI.
The Boston Celtics also won more games than the Nuggets, finishing 56-26. However, Boston returned $1,110.58 to bettors, nearly $370 below Denver’s total. The Celtics placed fourth with a 13.54% ROI.
Those comparisons demonstrate that the standings did not directly determine betting profitability. Historical odds influenced how much each victory paid, allowing Denver to generate a larger return than teams with better records.
The Los Angeles Lakers completed the top five after going 53-29. Their season produced $978.56 in profit and an 11.93% ROI, leaving Denver as one of only three NBA teams to clear $1,200 under the study’s approach.
That outcome placed Denver well above several other familiar championship contenders. The research placed the Nuggets between two 60-win teams, but Denver’s value at the sportsbook separated it from nearly every other team. For anyone who consistently backed the Nuggets, 54 victories translated into the NBA’s second-largest payout.