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Sixers’ NBA championship odds worsen after Joel Embiid’s knee injury

Embiid's MVP odds were taken off the board shortly after his injury was announced since he won't hit the minimum-game threshold to be considered for the award.

Sixers center Joel Embiid during a game against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 15.
Sixers center Joel Embiid during a game against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 15.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Less than a week ago, the 76ers had the fifth-best odds to win the NBA championship this season, behind the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Before the Sixers’ Jan. 30 loss to the Golden State Warriors, when star center Joel Embiid injured his lateral meniscus, the Sixers were trading at +1200 among the NBA title odds at BetMGM. In addition, Embiid went from the MVP betting favorite two weeks ago (+120) to being completely off the odds board at several sportsbooks.

With the Sixers having lost six of their last seven games, their championship odds are in a free fall. Here’s where their odds stand with the All-Star break approaching.

» READ MORE: Nick Nurse, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris have to earn their money for the Sixers with no Joel Embiid

NBA championship odds (BetMGM)

Odds listed at 50/1 or better

  1. Celtics: +275

  2. Nuggets: +425

  3. Bucks: +475

  4. Clippers: +600

  5. Suns: +1400

  6. Thunder: +1800

  7. Timberwolves: +2000

  8. Knicks: +2200

  9. Cavaliers: +3000

  10. Sixers: +3000

  11. Mavericks: +4000

  12. Lakers: +4000

  13. Heat: +4000

  14. Pelicans: +5000

  15. Kings: +5000

In just a week’s time, the Sixers’ odds to win the title have gone from +1200 before Embiid’s injury to +3000, tied for the ninth-best odds at BetMGM. When the season opened, the Sixers were trading with +1400 odds to win the title.

With Embiid expected to be reevaluated in March, his return timetable is uncertain, meaning the Sixers’ championship odds could continue to drop over the next month if the team continues to struggle. The injury is also allowing the Celtics (+275) and Bucks (+475) to pull away on the odds board, with the Knicks (+2200) having the next-best odds of an Eastern Conference team to win a title.

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid has knee surgery, with a recovery timeline taking shape

Jokić leads with Embiid out

The MVP odds have shifted in Nuggets center Nikola Jokić's favor after Embiid’s injury. On the day of Embiid’s injury, Jokić was trading at +100 at BetMGM, the MVP favorite ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+375) and the Sixers center (+450).

The following day, Jan. 31, Embiid dropped down to +1500 before eventually being taken off BetMGM’s odds board late last week because he won’t meet the minimum threshold of 65 games.

“Joel Embiid’s main competition for NBA MVP at this point in the season is playing 65 games,” BetMGM senior trader Halvor Egeland said last week before Embiid’s injury.

With Embiid likely out of the race, here are the current MVP odds as of Tuesday afternoon.

NBA MVP odds (via BetMGM)

Odds listed at 50/1 or better

  1. Nikola Jokić: -160

  2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: +240

  3. Giannis Antetokounmpo: +700

  4. Luka Dončić: +1200

  5. Kawhi Leonard: +2500

  6. Jalen Brunson: +5000