For months, the Golden State Warriors have been the clear-cut, outright favorites to win the NBA title.
Not anymore.
The San Antonio Spurs moved into the role of favorites Monday at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas after it was announced that Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss at least two weeks with a sprained right MCL. The Spurs are now the favorites at 3-2, followed by the Warriors at 9-4 and Cleveland Cavaliers at 3-1.
Sportsbook operator CG Technology kept the Warriors as the favorites, but lengthened their odds from 5-6 or -120 to 6-5 after the Curry news. The Spurs, who swept the Memphis Grizzlies to advance to the second round. are next at 2-1 at CG Technology.
At the end of last week, Golden State was a -125 favorite over the field at the SuperBook. That changed Sunday, after Curry went down late in the first half of the Warriors' Game 4 win over the Houston Rockets. Several Las Vegas sportsbooks halted betting on their odds to win the NBA title after Curry's injury before reopening them Monday afternoon.
At best, Curry, the reigning MVP, could return in a second-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers. The favored Clippers lead the Blazers 2-1 in their first-round series. The second round could tip off as early as Saturday.
The SuperBook oddsmakers have looked ahead to a potential second-round series between the Clippers and Warriors without Curry. Westgate NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said projections on a price for a series between Los Angeles and Golden State ranged from pick 'em to the Warriors -200 favorites.
Oddsmakers said Curry is worth about "4.5 to 5" points to the line, similar to or slightly more than LeBron James' worth to the spread.
Golden State, which leads the Rockets 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, is an 8.5-point home favorite Wednesday in Game 5.