With the NBA playoffs narrowed down to two teams, the focus has also narrowed on NBA Finals MVP odds. And there’s been some toggling at the top of that market.
After Golden State’s Game 1 loss in the NBA Finals, Warriors star Stephen Curry lost his mantel as the favorite in odds to win the NBA Finals MVP. Boston Celtics standout Jayson Tatum momentarily took over as the favorite at BetMGM, before Curry led a big Game 2 win to move back to the top.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3, Props.com gets an update on NBA Finals MVP odds and action.
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2022 NBA Finals MVP Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | +100 |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | +135 |
| Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | +750 |
| Al Horford | Boston Celtics | +4000 |
| Marcus Smart | Boston Celtics | +5000 |
| Andrew Wiggins | Golden State Warriors | +5000 |
| Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | +8000 |
| Jordan Poole | Golden State Warriors | 100/1 |
| Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors | 100/1 |
| Derrick White | Boston Celtics | 200/1 |
Odds via BetMGM and updated as of 1 p.m. ET June 6.
Head of the Class
Curry now has two big games in the NBA Finals: 34 points in the 120-108 Game 1 loss, and 29 points in the 107-88 Game 2 win. He opened the Finals as the -110 chalk at BetMGM, then fell to the +180 second choice to Tatum’s +140 following Game 1.
In the wake of the Game 2 blowout victory, Curry is back on top at even money (+100), with Tatum close behind at +135. Tatum had 28 points in Game 2, but 21 of those came in the first half. In Game 1, he had just 12 points, but he also had 13 assists, and the Celtics won, which bumped him from the +170 second choice to the +140 favorite.
When the NBA Finals MVP odds opened before the playoffs, Curry and Tatum were both +1400. Curry has taken 15.9% of all tickets in this market, well ahead of Tatum’s second-place tally of 9.4%.
Money is much more lopsided at BetMGM, where Curry is drawing 31.3% of all Finals MVP dollars. Curry has taken more than twice as much money as No. 2 Tatum.
BetMGM sports trader Christian Cipollini said a Curry Finals MVP win is definitely not good for the book, nor is Tatum. However, Boston’s Jaylen Brown now sits third in NBA Finals MVP odds at +750, and the book wouldn’t mind seeing him step up. Brown, who opened +2500, had 24 points in the Game 1 win and 17 points in the Game 2 loss.
The No. 4 choice is Boston forward Al Horford at +4000 (more on him in a moment), while the Celtics’ Marcus Smart and Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins are +5000 co-fifth choices.
Related: Which team will lift the trophy? Check out Matt LaMarca’s NBA Finals Predictions for a full breakdown of this series.
Tickets Takers and (Perhaps) Money Makers
The huge mover following Game 1: Horford. Bettors could’ve had the Celtics forward at 100/1 in NBA Finals MVP odds pre-Game 1, and 150/1 when this market opened. But after Horford’s 26-point effort — including a 6-for-8 night from 3-point range — BetMGM moved him all the way into the co-fourth choice at +1600.
However, Horford followed with a complete dud in Game 2, scoring just two points. So he’s backed up to the aforementioned +4000 fourth choice. Horford is tied for eighth in ticket count and is ninth in money. But with numerous bites at long odds, he’s a root-against for BetMGM. Ditto for the Warriors’ Wiggins, who opened 100/1, shortened to +2500 and is now +5000. Wiggins is also tied for eight in tickets, and he’s 11th in money, but with several tickets at big prices.
“BetMGM has taken significant liability on Al Horford and Andrew Wiggins, so either winning would be a tough outcome for the book,” Cipollini said.
Warriors guard Klay Thompson is third in both tickets and money at BetMGM, and he’s the second-largest liability. However, after opening +2500 and getting as short as +1400, Thompson is now a 100/1 long shot in odds to win NBA Finals MVP. That makes him the co-eighth choice with teammate Jordan Poole. Thompson had 15 points in Game 1 and just 11 points in Game 2.
Golden State forward Draymond Green is also falling back. BetMGM opened Green at +5000, and he got as short as +1200. However, he had just four points in Game 1 (though he piled up 11 boards) and nine points in Game 2. Green is now the +8000 seventh choice among the 12 players still on the board.