The NBA Finals MVP Odds have shuffled quite a bit after the first two games of the series. Nikola Jokic is still holding the top spot, but Bam Adebayo has made a jump that would impress even the most athletic kangaroo.
The Miami Heat pulled off a nail-biting 111-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2, tying the series at 1-1. It was a game filled with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster designed by an over-caffeinated mathematician. And guess what? It had a direct impact on the NBA Finals MVP odds. Let’s break those down below.
NBA Final MVP Odds – After Game 2
- Nikola Jokic: -260
- Jimmy Butler: +430
- Bam Adebayo: +650
- Jamal Murray: +4200
- Gabe Vincent: +4500
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of Monday, June 5.
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Miami Takes Game 2
In Game 2, the Miami Heat were led by the unexpected heroics of Gabe Vincent, who scored 23 points. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo chipped in with 21 points each, as the Heat offense sank enough threes to mount a fourth-quarter comeback for the road victory.
While the loss didn’t necessarily help Nikola Jokic’s MVP odds, he dropped a mind-boggling 41 points, padding his stats in this series to improve his claim to the award if the Nuggets go on to seal the deal.
Shift In NBA Finals MVP Odds
These jaw-dropping performances led to some interesting shifts in the NBA Finals MVP odds, as calculated by the sports sages at FanDuel Sportsbook. Currently, the odds for NBA Finals MVP after Game 2 look like this: Nikola Jokic is still the favorite, strutting around with odds of -260. Jimmy Butler follows at +430, Bam Adebayo is a surprise contender at +650, and Jamal Murray has dropped to +4200.
But let’s not forget the opening odds before this wild rollercoaster ride began. Jokic started at -360, Butler was a respectable +330, Murray was a bit of a long shot at +1700, and Adebayo was tucked away at +4000, hidden like a treasure chest on a deserted island.
Where The Numbers Stand
The improved odds for Jokic and Adebayo make sense. Jokic has been as good as advertised, and Denver seems content with letting Adebayo rack up numbers to devote more defensive resources to the three-point line. After Game 2, it seems likely that the Nuggets will continue that approach. After all, if Miami can’t knock down threes, there’s a good chance they won’t win this series.
After Game 2, Jokic’s numbers continue to impress, racking up an average of 34 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game. Adebayo has emerged as the Heat’s secret weapon, contributing an average of 23.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Butler is capable of producing big games, but he has been relatively tame while averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.5 rebounds in the first two games.
As the NBA Finals continue to unfold, the MVP race is set to be a spectacle filled with more drama than a Shakespearean play performed by acrobats (Cirque du Hamleil?). Will Jokic maintain his dominance and claim the MVP title? Or will the likes of Adebayo or Butler take home the hardware?