Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder entered the playoffs as favorites to win the NBA championship, and did nothing to dissuade the betting public in winning Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies by a record margin. Following the Thunder out West are the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, all of whom have better odds than the second-seeded Houston Rockets, who were favored ahead of only the Grizzlies in the West even before their Game 1 loss to the Warriors. The Timberwolves are still well behind the Lakers in the odds despite their Saturday Game 1 win, while the Nuggets and Clippers have traded series-favorite status with their Game 1 and Game 2 wins, respectively.
The Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, and they have the second-best odds to take home the NBA title, which would be their second consecutive and 19th overall in franchise history. They started their defense with a decisive Game 1 victory over the Orlando Magic. The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have the next-best odds to represent the East in the Finals, though the Knicks’ odds took a hit after their Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Detroit and the four other Eastern teams — the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Magic — are considered long shots, with 75-1 odds or longer, with the Pacers rising to the top of that group after defeating the Bucks.
Early favorites for Finals MVP include Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell, with Jaylen Brown and Stephen Curry behind them. A full list of MVP candidate odds follows below.
Resources: Daily Lines | Where to watch | NBA Playoff Bracket
Odds accurate as of publication. For latest and most complete odds go to ESPN BET
NBA Finals MVP favorites
The NBA Finals MVP Award recognizes the player deemed most valuable to his team in the NBA Finals only.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: +175
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +250
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: +725
Jaylen Brown, Celtics: 20-1
Stephen Curry, Warriors: 22-1
Luka Doncic, Mavericks: 28-1
Darius Garland, Cavaliers: 33-1
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: 33-1
Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: 33-1
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: 33-1
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: 40-1
Jalen Brunson, Knicks: 50-1
Jalen Williams, Thunder: 50-1
Jimmy Butler, Heat: 50-1
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: 50-1
LeBron James, Lakers: 50-1
Derrick White, Celtics: 66-1
Chet Holmgren, Thunder: 75-1
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: 75-1
James Harden, Clippers: 125-1
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: 150-1
Jrue Holiday, Celtics: 150-1
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: 150-1
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: 200-1
Pascal Siakam, Pacers: 200-1
Alperen Sengun, Rockets: 250-1
Draymond Green, Warriors: 250-1
Ja Morant, Grizzlies: 250-1
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: 250-1
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies: 300-1
Amen Thompson, Rockets: 500-1
Jalen Green, Rockets: 500-1
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