Updated NBA Finals MVP Odds After Game 1: Curry No Longer Odds-On Favorite, Siakam’s Odds Improve to 10-1

• Despite sixth straight 30+ point outing, Curry’s MVP odds suffer
• After breakout Game 1 performance, Pascal Siakam moves up odds board
• What’s the best bet to make?

Anyone will tell you that one game does not a series make, especially when you’re talking about the NBA Finals.

But one game can definitely tilt an odds board when you’re trying to predict the Finals MVP.

Toronto Raptors Fans Can’t Get Enough. Win 1. 3 Wins To Go. pic.twitter.com/nRA9bLGgoz

— August (@TheCommonSackey) May 31, 2019

That’s the case after the Raptors kept the good times rolling across the country, taking Game 1 against the Warriors on Thursday.

2019 NBA Finals MVP Odds

*Odds taken May 31, 2019.

Literally two sleeps ago, Stephen Curry was the runaway favorite to claim the award, clocking in at -125. Is it time to seek out another option, or do you have a better payout to invest in now?

Only Change in Curry’s Game Was Result

Anyone watching knows that the Warriors didn’t bring their best effort to Game 1.

While their 16 turnovers weren’t far off from the 14.4 they’ve averaged this playoffs, many of them were unforced, and a few were preseason-level lazy.

Also, the top shooting team in the postseason (48.4%), Golden State shot just 43.6% from the field.

Marc Gasol was unbelievable in the first half. Hitting 3s. Making smart passes. Setting screens. And most important: Playing outstanding pick-and-roll defense, pressuring Steph Curry. It looks like Prime Gasol is out there. Heck of an effort.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 31, 2019

Curry, who was a man on fire against the Trail Blazers, was defended better than he had been the entire playoffs by the Raptors. And yet, he still finished with a game-high 34 points.

While he shot just 8-for-18 from the field, time and again he found ways to manufacture points, in this case going perfect on 14 free throw attempts.

#DubNation @StephenCurry30 (34 PTS, 4 3PM) goes for 30+ PTS in his 6th straight #NBAFinals game. #StrengthInNumbers

Game 2: Sunday (6/2), 8:00pm/et, ABC & TSN pic.twitter.com/8JhrqH0LdA

— NBA (@NBA) May 31, 2019

Had the Warriors found a way to eke this one out – it was a one-possession game with nine minutes in the fourth quarter – the narrative would be how Curry dragged his team to victory with another stellar outing, his sixth-straight 30+ point game in a row.

Time to Pounce on Durant or Kawhi?

For now, the two players we’d kill to see go head-to-head (minus Raptor fans, I’m sure) are Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.

While Durant appears to be out until perhaps Game 4, his return still has the potential to alter the complexion of this series.

Steve Kerr has made it official and ruled Kevin Durant out of Sunday's Game 2. Game 3 is Wednesday … Game 4 is a week from today. The Raptors have the lead but the Warriors can't say they don't have the schedule in their favor

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 31, 2019

Meanwhile, Leonard, who’s literally been the entire band for Toronto to get to this point, played backup singer in the opener, gladly letting the Warriors bring double teams and deferring to his teammates, who shined.

🏀 GAME 1 FINAL SCORE 🏀

Pascal Siakam goes off for 32 PTS on 14-17 shooting as the @Raptors win Game 1 of the #NBAFinals at home!#WeTheNorth 118#StrengthInNumbers 109

Kawhi Leonard: 23 PTS, 8 REB
Marc Gasol: 20 PTS, 7 REB
Fred VanVleet: 15 PTS
Kyle Lowry: 7 PTS, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/fWEWTdfo73

— NBA (@NBA) May 31, 2019

Even then, he still finished with 23 points on a tidy 14 field goal attempts, while anchoring the defense.

🖐️ @kawhileonard's 23 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST help the @Raptors go up 1-0 with the home victory! #WeTheNorth #NBAFinals

Game 2: Sunday (6/2), 8:00pm/et, ABC & TSN pic.twitter.com/MdQzKifEvc

— NBA (@NBA) May 31, 2019

But at some point, you’d expect Leonard to have an impact game, as he’s done that consistently in every series.

He tallied five 30+ point games against the 76ers, four more against the Bucks, and a couple against the Magic. He’s a scoring powder keg that’s about to explode.

Notable Movers on the Board

Pascal Siakam was a wrecking ball in Game 1, pouring in 32 points on a sparkling 14-for-17 from the field, showing off his entire repertoire and showing everyone why he’s the likely most improved player in the NBA this year.

He shot from a +1400 to +1000, but how much more are you going to get from him at this clip?

Spicy P (32 PTS & 8 REB) took care of business for the @Raptors to get their first #NBAFinals W! 🌶🔥#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/6JQZE8r0Zq

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 31, 2019

Draymond Green notched another triple-double, and somehow his odds lengthened (+800 to +1000). And maybe winning plays count when the clock strikes quadruple zero, but not exactly when making MVP calculations.

Seeing Kyle Lowry sink the dagger in a Finals game >>> pic.twitter.com/oHweZhQB2F

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 31, 2019

Case-in-point? Kyle Lowry was a factor, but a seven-point, six-rebound, nine-assist line with two key charges drawn still deep-sixed his odds from +1400 to +3300.

What’s the Best Bet to Make?

While Durant’s impact would be immense it might be too late in the series.

Instead, it’s going to take some tremendous heavy lifting for Curry to put his team in position to claim their three-peat. Getting in on him now is a good wager. I’d lean to Draymond as a backup bet.

On the other side, at this point, Kawhi is still the only target for Finals MVP.

As well as Marc Gasol, Fred VanVleet and Siakam played in Game 1, knocking off the defending champs is going to take a supernova effort, and that’s where Leonard needs to get it done.