NBA playoff futures: Pacers favored to win series over Cavs
A home team finally won a game in the NBA conference semifinals. By a lot. But it was Wednesday’s Eastern Conference semifinals game that really shook up the odds.
Despite a 1-0 series deficit to the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics still entered Wednesday’s action as the odds-on favorite to win the East at -140. Then Boston went out and blew a 20-point lead for a second straight game to fall into a 0-2 series hole.
The Celtics dipped to +160 to win the conference — still the favorite in the East — and they now have the same odds as the Knicks (-110) to win their second-round series. The Knicks moved from +750 to win the East to +280 following the Game 2 win.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back in a big way, dusting the Denver Nuggets by 43 to even the series at 1-1. The Finals-favorite Thunder saw their championship odds move to +125.
The Golden State Warriors dropped Game 2 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the Wolves evened up the series. The series heads to San Francisco for Game 3 on Sunday.
The Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers resume their series Friday. The Pacers are up 2-0.
Early favorites for Finals MVP have remained somewhat intact, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum holding a significant lead on the rest of the field. Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards round out the top five.
A full list of MVP candidate odds can be found below, along with each team’s odds to win their current series, the conference and the Finals.
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: +130
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +425
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: 10-1
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: 12-1
Jalen Brunson, Knicks: 12-1
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: 14-1
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: 20-1
Jaylen Brown, Celtics: 25-1
Pascal Siakam, Pacers: 33-1
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: 40-1
Stephen Curry, Warriors: 50-1
Darius Garland, Cavaliers: 60-1
Jalen Williams, Thunder: 60-1
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: 60-1
Chet Holmgren, Thunder: 75-1
Derrick White, Celtics: 75-1
Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics: 75-1
Draymond Green, Warriors: 150-1
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: 150-1
Jrue Holiday, Celtics: 250-1
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: 300-1
