By Only Players staff
Updated 3/9/25 6:14pm ET
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back to a -500 NBA MVP betting favorite at DraftKings. The point guard scored 40 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s convincing win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
The three-time MVP posted an NBA record stat line with 31 points, 21 rebounds and 22 assists on Friday, forcing oddsmakers to tighten the NBA MVP betting market.
No player in NBA history had every recorded a 30-20-20 game before. Denver outlasted the Phoenix Suns in overtime, 149-141. Jokic did not achieve the feat in regulation.
That performance forced oddmsakers to lower SGA’s odds from -600 to -300 at FanDuel, while Jokic’s odds shifted from +350 to +220. But Jokic is now back to +330.
SGA and the Thunder lead the Western Conference by 12 games over the Nuggets and L.A. Lakers. At 53-11, they only trail the Cavs by percentage points for the league’s best record.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA in scoring at 32.8 points, while ranking 15th in assists and second in steals.
Jokic ranks third in scoring (28.9 PPG), third in rebounds (12.9 RPG) and second in assists (10.6 APG). He is averaging a triple-double while also ranking fourth in steals (1.8).
This is a two-horse race, given Giannis Antetokounmpo is the third favorite with 300-to-1 odds.
Photo Courtesy: Icon Sportswire