Updated 2019 NBA Finals MVP Odds After Raptors Take Series Lead: Curry Now +175 Favorite, Kawhi Given 5-1 Odds

• Steph Curry vaults to the top of MVP odds after blistering series vs Portland
• Kawhi Leonard has Raptors on verge of franchise’s first NBA Finals berth
• See the updated odds to win the 2019 NBA Finals MVP

After stringing together five of the most brilliant games in NBA playoff basketball history, there’s a deserving solo leader atop the latest NBA Finals MVP odds.

Not to be outdone, there happens to be a one-man gang in the East that’s making his own moves, after what you might consider a disrespectful placement the last time out.

2019 NBA Finals MVP Odds

* Odds taken My 24, 2019

With things getting close to settled between the Raptors and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, let’s have a look at who you should be targeting for a winning MVP wager the next series.

Tough to Go Against Curry

Kevin Durant’s calf injury – which already has him ruled out for the start of the NBA Finals – was supposed to hamper a Golden State squad that had become reliant on his prodigious ability to get buckets.

? 146 points in Western Conference Finals
? Most points ever in a 4-game sweep@StephenCurry30 x #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/mXouCN7iPr

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 22, 2019

Instead, it’s unlocked Steph Curry, who seems to have been hiding in plain sight for what feels like an eternity. Not anymore.

He’s back to being a binge-scoring wizard we’d come to shake our heads at in awe, with his ability to rip mesh from all angles and distances on a basketball court.

Steph Curry, this is insane. Look at the movement on this ONE play. (h/t @DrewShiller) pic.twitter.com/weyldoi9mf

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 21, 2019

In five games since KD went down, Curry has bludgeoned the Rockets and Trail Blazers to the tune of 35.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists. He’s shooting 41% from three-point range, and set an all-time mark for threes made in a four-game series with 26 daggers.

Scottie Pippen giving Steph Curry all the praise for the Warriors success: "At no time in history have we seen a player be able to extend a team's defense like this guy." pic.twitter.com/M4wGus7o8B

— Chris Montano (@gswchris) May 21, 2019

Durant and Curry as teammates have largely cancelled each other out in the discussions for league MVP, and Durant’s ascension to one of the greats has coincided with back-to-back titles and Finals’ MVPs, with Steph cooly riding shotgun in the process (think Kobe to Shaq in the three-peat years).

With Durant likely out of the picture, this trophy is Curry’s to lose.

Kawhi Capable of Claiming 2nd Finals MVP

Meanwhile, here’s hoping you had Kawhi Leonard the first time around, when he was an absurd +1000.

Now that those odds are shaved in half, there’s both intrigue and earnings on the line when discussing a potential Warriors-Raptors NBA Finals.

Kawhi’s 2019 postseason is climbing the ladder historically.

Offensively it’s up there with any playoff run by a forward: 31-8-6, 51-44-88%, 28.7 PER.

Defensively he’s been more impactful than any of them.

Throw in Game 7 Philly and last night’s road masterpiece and man…

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 24, 2019

Leonard has been a destroyer of worlds these playoffs, dropping 30+ points in 11 of 17 Toronto playoff games, none bigger than his Game 5 road effort in Milwaukee. His 35-point, 7-rebound, 9-assist performance crumpled the best team in the league, with the best home record.

Cold. Blooded.

Kawhi led the Raptors to a huge Game 5 win in Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/mXJztoLAtS

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 24, 2019

It has the Raptors in place to wrap the East up Saturday night, a chance for the franchise to dip its feet into Finals waters for the first time.

What’s the Best Bet to Make?

Assuming Toronto dusts the Bucks to get to the championship series, there’s no better value than going for the Raptors to win the Finals (+450) and tacking on some cheddar for Kawhi to win MVP (+500).

If the Raptors pull off the upset, there’s little chance Leonard isn’t taking home the trophy.

Raptors: No I wanna lose to the Warriors!
Bucks: No I wanna lose to the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/FoG3oJ74Ea

— Wise Vick (@wisemanvick) May 16, 2019

But these are the Warriors, and the champs are playing at an incredible level no one has reached yet in these playoffs. There’s better value in betting Steph (+175) than the Dubs taking it all (-300), but I believe they’re both winning bets.