The Western Conference Finals are underway, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking a 1-0 series lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Thunder are heavy favourites $1.11 to advance to the NBA Finals according to bookmaker Sportsbet, which would see them return to the big stage for the first time since 2012.
Meanwhile, Minnesota, who has made the Conference Finals for a second-straight season, has their eyes firmly set on advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
This series sees two of the league's brightest young stars square off in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards, who lead the bookies odds to take home Western Conference Finals MVP.
In each of the previous three seasons since the awards inception, the winner has been from the team that has advanced to the NBA Finals.
Let's take a look at the favourite, best value, sleeper, and overall odds.
Favourite: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($1.17 with Sportsbet)
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SGA has arguably been the standout performer of the postseason, averaging 29 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.9 rebounds on ..487/.293/.854 shooting splits.
With the Thunder favoured to win the series, Gilgeous-Alexander is the obvious pick to win the award, with his next closest teammate Jalen Williams, coming in at $20 odds.
Best Value: Anthony Edwards ($7.00 with Sportsbet)
In what is essentially a two-horse race between SGA and Edwards, the Minnesota high-flyer is great value to win the award at $7.
Edwards is currently averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on .445/.385/.737 shooting splits.
If Minnesota wins the series, Edwards will no doubt be the frontrunner to be named Western Conference MVP.
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Sleeper: Julius Randle: ($18 with Sportsbet)
OK, hear me out.
Right now Randle is playing some of the best basketball of his career and proved to be the difference-maker in their second round series win against the Golden State Warriors.
With the Thunder's defensive attention set to zone in on slowing down Edwards, Randle has an opportunity each night to be the team's leading scorer. At $18, he is a longshot, but don't rule him out just yet.
Western Conference Finals MVP Odds
| Player | Odds |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) | $1.17 |
| Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) | $7 |
| Julius Randle (Timberwolves) | $18 |
| Jalen Williams (Thunder) | $20 |
| Chet Holmgren (Thunder) | $36 |
| Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves) | $376 |
| Naz Reid (Timberwolves) | $376 |
| Alex Caruso (Thunder) | $426 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein (Thunder) | $426 |
| Lu Dort (Thunder) | $426 |
| Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) | $501 |