Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson (proper) brings the ball up the court docket in opposition to Washington Wizards’ Will Riley in the course of the first half at Capital One Enviornment on March 2, 2026 in Washington, AFP.
The reigning Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (NBA) Most Precious Participant (MVP), scoring title holder, Western Convention Finals MVP, NBA Finals MVP, and member of the championship-winning Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, together with being named Sports activities Illustrated Sportsperson of the 12 months (2025), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) had a 12 months most athletes can solely dream about, and it appeared That he is headed for an additional massive 12 months, besides (not) a bit one. Description.
After lacking 9 consecutive video games, spanning nearly your entire month of February, the 27-year-old star level guard returned to the staff final Friday and, regardless of sitting out the top of the fourth quarter and all of time beyond regulation, posted 36 factors, three rebounds and 9 assists, serving to his staff edge Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets 127-121. A virtually month-long, injury-induced hiatus restricted his participation, however not his contributions, then on Sunday, he marched his troops to Dallas to tackle the (weakened) Mavericks, the place they not solely earned one other stable win, 100-87, however SGA landed one other historic milestone.
Within the win, SGA posted 30 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists whereas taking pictures 12-of-20 from the ground, and people factors meant 59-straight street video games with not less than 20 factors, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time document. Whereas the win was essential for the staff because the San Antonio Spurs made a spirited run to the highest spot within the Western Convention, it isn’t on a regular basis that Chamberlain is healthier in any capability, which places a big feather in SGA’s proverbial cap. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, SGA was shut out within the staff’s 116-108 win on its journey to the Chicago Bulls, and that is the place issues obtained tough for the JustBet favourite to repeat as league MVP.
The NBA applied a “65-game rule” simply earlier than the beginning of the 2023/24 season, which principally permits gamers to overlook a complete of 17 video games (18 if one reaches the NBA Cup Finals) earlier than formally being eradicated from competing for end-of-season honors, together with Defensive Participant of the 12 months, Most Improved Participant, All-NBA, All-Defensive Groups and, in fact, Most Precious Participant included. As it’s, SGA has already missed 12 video games, double the quantity from final season, which means he can solely miss 5 extra video games the remainder of the season to stay eligible for back-to-back MVP honors.
After enjoying 52 of 64 video games for the Thunder this season, Sga is producing stellar numbers (31.8 factors, 55.1 area purpose share, 38.1 three-point share and 89.2 free throw share), a slight drop from final 12 months’s output, however nonetheless sufficient to place him within the result in retain the MVP crown. His closest rival for the respect, and final season’s MVP runner-up, Jokic, has already missed 16 video games this season, and can be ineligible if he misses two extra video games. If SGA manages to cowl the 65-game minimal and declare the MVP award, he’ll develop into simply the fifteenth participant in league historical past to perform such a feat, becoming a member of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Jokic as the one gamers to win consecutive MVP honors. That mentioned, particular person accolades imply nothing if they do not translate into championship trophies, and JustBet favors Oklahoma Metropolis to repeat this 12 months.
Profitable persistently on the street is troublesome in sports activities, and much more troublesome within the NBA, as a result of the cheering crowd is so near the gamers. Up to now this season, Oklahoma Metropolis has prioritized successful on the street with a league-best 24-8 document, together with a 6-2 street document when SGA is unavailable and the league’s finest defensive ranking in street video games. It is a signal of their consistency as a staff and success on the street normally interprets into playoff success. To win 4 play-off collection, a staff is not going to solely must carry out effectively on the street but in addition preserve its consistency with regularity whatever the situations. Each the SGA and Thunder squads have demonstrated their skill to try this this season, which speaks volumes for his or her possibilities at repeating the championship.
The Thunder welcome the Golden State Warriors tomorrow night time to the Paycom Middle, the place they’re 25-6 for the season, and are anticipated to go 26-6 even when SGA is unable to go. In complete, there are 23 video games out there this weekend and looking out on the data over the previous few years, some will characteristic probably the most stunning groups this season. The San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons have been the laughingstock of the NBA for the previous few seasons, however now they discover themselves in a contentious play-off dialog, with the Spurs sitting in second place behind the Thunder within the Western Convention, and the Pistons on prime of the Japanese Convention with lower than 20 video games left within the common season.
The Charlotte Hornets’ latest surge has excited NBA-nation, as they’ve gained six in a row, every by 16 factors or extra. After all, most of these have been in opposition to the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Portland Path Blazers and Dallas Mavericks, who’re close to the underside of the league, however nonetheless, they have been nice wins, and Wednesday’s win over the higher-ranked Boston Celtics was the icing on the cake. The race to the postseason is actually on, with little room for errors, and even groups that have been left lifeless within the water are discovering a approach to do extra than simply survive. I really like this recreation!
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nba 2025/26 champion
staff odds
oklahoma metropolis thunder 2.41
Denver Nuggets 7.00
San Antonio Spurs 9.00
boston celtics 10.00
Cleveland Cavaliers 13.00
Detroit Pistons 16.00
New York Knicks 17.00
Houston Rockets 23.00
Minnesota Timberwolves 29.00
Los Angeles Lakers 70.00
*Solely the highest 10 prospects proven (see web site for full checklist)
Observe: Odds are topic to alter
