2024 NBA MVP odds: How Joel Embiid's injury shakes up award race
The NBA MVP race took a turn Tuesday night when the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid suffered a left knee injury in the final minutes of a 119-107 loss the Golden State Warriors.
Embiid was scheduled to have an MRI to assess the extent of the injury.
During Tuesday’s game, Embiid attempted to retrieve the ball when he fell to the ground. Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga fell on top of Embiid's knee. This caused Embiid to grab his knee, and he was seen in excruciating pain. Embiid tried to get up but was limping, so he left the game and went to the locker room. Embiid did not return to finish the game.
Embiid has been struggling with a persistent knee injury on the same knee, sitting out of Philadelphia's last two games due to soreness. He was listed as questionable for the game against the Warriors, but the medical team ultimately cleared him to play.
Joel Embiid is down and holding his knee pic.twitter.com/Aigap7Ch4l
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 31, 2024
NBA MVP odds, tickets and handle
Embiid's odds of winning the NBA MVP have decreased as his health status is in question, while Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder have become more likely contenders to take the title.
Here are the updated odds according to BetMGM, as of Wednesday morning.
Nikola Jokic: -125
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: +300
Luka Doncic: +500
Giannis Antetokounmpo: +700
Joel Embiid: +1500
Jayson Tatum: +4000
Kevin Durant: +10000
Anthony Edwards: +10000
2024 NBA MVP odds movement
Here's how top contenders for the NBA MVP award stacked up last week and at open, per BetMGM (ticket and handle information as of Tuesday, Jan. 30):
Player | Last Week | Open | Tickets | Handle |
Nikola Jokic | 300 | 500 | 24.9% | 29.9% |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 375 | 2000 | 8.8% | 10.6% |
Joel Embiid | 120 | 600 | 9.5% | 23.6% |
Luka Doncic | 1000 | 500 | 7.1% | 6.5% |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | 1100 | 550 | 3.6% | 7.3% |
Jayson Tatum | 3300 | 900 | 14.3% | 6.1% |
Kevin Durant | 12500 | 1200 | 5.2% | 1.6% |
Anthony Edwards | 6600 | 5000 | 3.2% | 1.9% |
15000 | 1800 | 6.3% | 3.6% |
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA MVP odds: Nikola Jokic the favorite after Joel Embiid injury
