Just when it looked like Steph Curry was finally on the cusp of his first NBA Finals MVP award, along came Game 3 in Boston and a blowout that Warriors star in more ways than one.
Not only is Golden State down 2-1 in the best of seven series ahead of Game 4 at TD Garden, Curry’s availability has been thrown into some doubt after suffering a left leg injury late in the fourth quarter on Wednesday while fighting for a loose ball.
Forget Finals MVP, that’s bad news overall for the Warriors if they hope to win another title. In the meantime, here’s who has taken over the top spot in our rankings as the series gets closer to crowning a champion.
All odds via Tipico
9
Draymond Green (+20000)
Game 1 ranking: Not ranked
Game 2 ranking: No. 6 (+8000)
Perhaps the best thing Draymond does right now is take pressure off his other teammates. That’s no slight, either. Green has proven he can handle the criticism and jeers that come his way—which is becoming pretty vital skillset after another night where he produced more storylines than actual points.
8
Jordan Poole (+20000)
Game 1 ranking: Not ranked
Game 2 ranking: No. 3 (+20000)
The latest, emerging Splash Brother was mostly kept in check on Wednesday. Poole finished with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists while making just one of four attempts from behind the arc.
Fortunately for those who believe in him, Poole is absolutely capable of going off at any time and taking over a game. That keeps his MVP hopes alive, albeit quite unlikely.
7
Al Horford (+5000)
Game 1 ranking: No. 1 (+1300)
Game 2 ranking: No. 4 (+7000)
Obviously Al wasn’t going to be held to just two points again like Golden State did in Game 2. In Game 3, he bounced back in a big way with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He’s been a steadying force on the floor for Boston and if he continues in that role—and can score efficiently—he’ll have a major case for Finals MVP if the Celtics win.
6
Andrew Wiggins (+10000)
Game 1 ranking: No. 8 (+7000)
Game 2 ranking: No. 7 (+9000)
A good, not great effort from Wiggins keeps him in the hunt for Finals MVP. He played 40 minutes in Game 3 and proved if he gets a little bit of space on the floor he can attack the rim like hardly anyone else in this series. He’s scored in double figures each game in the Finals with at least five rebounds. Golden State needs him to score and he’s more than happy to get his shots off.
5
Marcus Smart (+3000)
Game 1 ranking: No. 5 (+2000)
Game 2 ranking: No. 8 (+6000)
We said Marcus Smart was going to have to do a lot better than his 1-for-6 performance in Game 2. Smart listened and posted 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in Game 3, proving every bit as important as Robert Williams with a bit more production.
4
Klay Thompson (+10000)
Game 1 ranking: No. 6 (+6000)
Game 2 ranking: No. 9 (+20000)
If only everyone had a “Game 6 Klay” mixtape on YouTube they could watch to pump themselves back up. Klay finally made his mark this series with 25 points—including five three-pointers—and if this keeps up he’ll be a legitimate MVP contender.
3
Stephen Curry (+200)
Game 1 ranking: No. 3 (+155)
Game 2 ranking: No. 1 (-110)
It’s not Steph’s abilities dropping him in the rankings (31 points in Game 3), it’s his health. Betting on Curry still feels somewhat safe, but he’s no longer a lock until we know just how well his legs are working.
2
Jayson Tatum (+110)
Game 1 ranking: No. 4 (+125)
Game 2 ranking: No. 2 (+110)
The current favorite to win MVP at Tipico, Tatum posted a stellar 26 points, nine assists and six rebounds. He’s done everything that’s been asked of him and more. If Boston goes up 3-1, it’ll almost certainly be because of Tatum.
1
Jaylen Brown (+350)
Game 1 ranking: No. 2 (+550)
Game 2 ranking: No. 5 (+900)
Congrats to everyone who got in on Brown when he was +900 after Game 2. The shooting guard has been one of the most consistent players in the Finals, dropping 24 points in Game 1, 17 in Game 2 and 27 in Game 3. Brown’s longer odds make him a more enticing MVP bet and it’s entirely within reach if he keeps up this pace.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).
