MVP race shakeup
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the betting favorite for MVP while Luka Dončić has surged into the Top‑4 of odds boards—Dončić’s jump coincides with the Lakers’ recent win streak and looming game‑count eligibility worries. Victor Wembanyama climbed to No. 2 on NBA.com’s official MVP Ladder, and Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung (out at least two weeks) has effectively removed him from award conversation and hurt Detroit’s season outlook ( ).
Oddsmakers have shortened Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander’s price to around -1000 on several major books this week, making him the prohibitive favorite in market listings. (oddsshark.com) Sports Illustrated’s betting column flagged Luka Dončić’s recent climb onto multiple sportsbooks’ top‑four boards this week, with several outlets now posting him among the top handful of futures. (si.com) The Lakers have ripped off a multi‑game surge — extending a season‑best streak into the mid‑to‑late March stretch, including a 124‑116 win on March 18 that matched their longest run of the year. (apnews.com) Dončić’s price movement tracks with a barrage of high‑scoring outings: 51 points on March 12, 36 on March 16 and 40 on March 18, with a 60‑point explosion recorded in Miami on March 19 in the official game logs. (espn.com) NBA.com’s Kia MVP Ladder has elevated Victor Wembanyama to No. 2 in the weekly update, repositioning the Spurs center behind the leader and into what NBA.com called a three‑player sprint. (nba.com) Detroit announced that Cade Cunningham suffered a left pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and will be re‑evaluated in two weeks, an injury update the Pistons and league outlets confirmed on March 19. (nba.com) The NBA’s 65‑game awards eligibility rule — which requires 65 appearances and essentially 63 games at 20+ minutes — is already shaping the ladder, with analysts noting several contenders are either out of the running or must play nearly every remaining game to qualify. (espn.com)
