Lakers star LeBron James will miss a season opener Tuesday for the first time in his 23-year NBA career because of sciatica.

The absence of the 40-year-old four-time NBA MVP has had an adverse impact on Los Angeles’ betting odds, though it hasn’t stopped bettors from loading up on the Lakers to win the title this season.

The Lakers are the Westgate’s NBA title ticket leader, by more than twice as many as the next team, and the SuperBook’s largest liability. The Lakers were as low as 12-1 in the offseason to win their 18th league championship and sat at 14-1 before shooting up to 16-1 after the team announced that James will miss the start of the season.

“They had a relatively easier schedule to start the season, but now that LeBron’s going to miss what sounds like a month, we jumped their title odds,” SuperBook NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. “You’ve got a loaded Western Conference.”

Sherman also lowered the Lakers’ season win total from 49½ to 46½, and Los Angeles has shifted from a 3½-point favorite over the Warriors in Tuesday’s game to a 2-point home underdog.

The Lakers will be led by Luka Doncic, who reportedly lost 31 pounds in the offseason and is the 3-1 third choice to win his first MVP award. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 2-1 favorite at the Westgate to repeat as MVP, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the +250 second choice to win his fourth MVP.

“Now Luka has to carry the load for the first month without LeBron, so he can put up larger numbers out of necessity and be in that MVP conversation,” Sherman said.

Rolling Thunder

Oklahoma City is the clear +225 favorite to repeat as NBA champion and has the highest win total at 62½.

“They’re returning their entire team and a young core that won the title, so they were the obvious starting point,” Sherman said.

The Nuggets are the +650 second choice and money leader at the SuperBook, which took a $4,000 wager on Denver at 8-1.

“We had them at 16-1 until free agency started,” Sherman said. “They got some nice additions to help their bench out, and they look like they’re going into this year better than they were last year.”

Denver traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson and also added Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.

Christmas gift

With Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the season as they recover from torn Achilles tendons, the Cavaliers are the 7-1 third pick to win the title and the Knicks are the 9-1 fourth favorites.

New York is a 2½-point home favorite over Cleveland in Wednesday’s opener for both teams. The Westgate has the same line on the board for their Christmas Day matchup, which is why Sherman bet on the Cavaliers +4½ in Wednesday’s game when the line first came out.

“The funny thing about that game is I opened up their Christmas game a while back, and I had the Knicks -2½ against the Cavs on Christmas, and the market opened their opening night game for the same matchup 4½,” he said. “So, I took the 4½, and now it’s reflective of the Christmas line.”

Best bet

At the current numbers, Sherman’s best bet on the season openers is on the Clippers (-9) over the Jazz on Wednesday. Utah has the second-lowest win total (20½), above the Nets (19½).

“The Clippers played Kawhi (Leonard) a lot in the preseason,” Sherman said. “They got a lot of playing time together in the preseason, and it looks like they should be able to fluidly jump into the season.”

Flagg day

Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall draft pick, is the odds-on -220 favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. Jazz rookie Ace Bailey is the 9-1 second choice.

“There is a wide separation with Cooper Flagg,” Sherman said. “He was the obvious starting point. He got drafted to a good team and, without (injured) Kyrie (Irving) playing, he’s expected to see a lot of playing time and should be a contributor to that team.”

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X.

NBA odds

At Westgate SuperBook

Championship

Up to 30-1

Thunder +225

Nuggets +650

Cavaliers 7-1

Knicks 9-1

Rockets 14-1

Lakers 16-1

Clippers 16-1

Timberwolves 16-1

Magic 20-1

Warriors 25-1

Mavericks 30-1

76ers 30-1

MVP

Up to 25-1

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2-1

Nikola Jokic +250

Luka Doncic 3-1

Giannis Antetokounmpo 9-1

Victor Wembanyama 12-1

Anthony Edwards 25-1

Rookie of the Year

Up to 20-1

Cooper Flagg -220

Ace Bailey 9-1

Tre Johnson 10-1

Dylan Harper 14-1

VJ Edgecombe 14-1

Kon Knueppel 20-1