The NBA Finals is down to a best-of-five series after the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets split the first two games.

Will the race for Most Valuable Player of the Finals be as competitive?

Denver’s Nikola Jokić opened as a huge favorite to win the award, and understandably so, as the Joker has led his team through a dominant playoff run, including a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. He still is the favorite to win the award, despite the Nuggets dropping Game 2. Joker finished the game with 41 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort. 

Jimmy Butler is currently second on the odds board to win Finals MVP, which also makes sense, as he has been Miami’s MVP during the team’s run through the East. Jimmy Buckets finished the equalizing game with 21 points, nine assists and four rebounds.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the MVP odds board as the series shifts to Miami (odds from FOX Bet).

ODDS TO WIN 2023 NBA FINALS MVP*

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: -278 (bet $10 to win $13.60 total)
Jimmy Butler, Heat: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Bam Adebayo, Heat: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Gabe Vincent, Heat: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Max Strus, Heat: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Caleb Martin, Heat: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)

*odds as of 6/5/2023

Heat defeat Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA Finals

Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe react to the Heat’s win in Game 2.

The biggest mover after Miami’s Game 2 win is Bam Adebayo, who ended up with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists. His odds of winning the award have shifted significantly since the start of the series. Bam went from +6000 before Game 1 to +3000 before Game 2, to now third on the board, at +650.

Another big riser is Miami’s Gabe Vincent (+4500). 

The former UC-Santa Barbara Gaucho has made a hard charge up the odds list after his standout performance in Game 2 (team-high 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor – including 4-for-6 shooting on 3-pointers).

On the flip side, Jamal Murray’s odds have taken a tumble. Before Game 1, he was the third favorite at +2200. After Game 2’s loss, Murray has lengthened all the way out to +4000.

Bettors love a long shot, and if you’re looking for one to throw some money on in the MVP market, how about a player who did not score in Game 1? You can currently get Max Strus at +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)

Like the Heat as a team, Strus rebounded from Game 1 to play a major role in Miami’s Game 2 victory.

After going scoreless in the opener (missing all 10 shots, including 0-for-9 shooting on 3-pointers), Strus played a key role in Miami evening the series with 14 points on 4-for-10 shooting on 3s with six assists and a blocked shot.

Are you ready to throw some cash at the next Finals MVP? Stay tuned to FOX Sports as these odds stay on the move as the Heat-Nuggets series moves on.

Download the FOX Super 6 app for your chance to win thousands of dollars on the biggest sporting events each and every week! Just make your picks and you could win the grand prize. Download and play today!

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more