NBA betting: After knocking out KD and the Nets, Giannis is now the big favorite for Finals MVP
There’s a new overwhelming betting favorite for NBA Finals MVP at BetMGM.
The Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant had long been bettors’ top pick to be the Finals MVP and his odds reflected that popularity. But with the Nets now out of the playoffs after losing in seven games to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, a Bucks player has replaced Durant atop the list of favorites.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is now the favorite at +145. He’s one of just three players with odds better than +1000 to win Finals MVP and the only Eastern Conference player with odds below +1200 to win the award.
The next-closest favorites are both Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker is at +300 and Chris Paul is at +550. The Suns lead the Clippers 1-0 in the Western Conference finals though Paul didn’t play in Game 1 because of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols.
Paul George is the No. 4 favorite at +1000. Trae Young is fifth at +1500. His Hawks take on the Bucks on Wednesday in the East finals.
Nearly 30% of money on Durant
The Nets’ elimination from the playoffs means that BetMGM is breathing a sigh of relief. Durant was the most-bet player with 15.6% of wagers and 29.6% of the money wagered on Finals MVP.
His teammate James Harden was No. 2 in both categories. Just over 10% of tickets were on Harden and 11.5% of the handle was on Harden. Together, Harden and Durant accounted for over 41% of the money wagered on Finals MVP.
BetMGM’s biggest remaining liability is Paul. More than 9% of the wagers and the same percentage of the handle is on Paul to win Finals MVP. Antetokounmpo has only been bet by 5.4% of bettors and less than 8% of the handle is on him to win. We’re guessing his number of tickets will go up in the coming days, even if his odds are way down from +1000 when the playoffs began.
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