NBA Title and MVP Races Crack Open After Early Injuries — SkimNews
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- Oklahoma City Thunder lost four of their top six players to injuries—including Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren—leading to 24- and 21-point losses in Dallas and Houston, with both games featuring eight consecutive quarter deficits.
- New York Knicks started 2-4 despite being defending champions, needing late comebacks against Detroit and Chicago to secure their only wins, exposing early vulnerabilities in their title defense.
- San Antonio Spurs began 4-2 but struggled against tougher opponents and required overtime to defeat the injury-plagued Jazz, dimming their status as one of the preseason’s top three title favorites.
- Victor Wembanyama has emerged as the early MVP favorite, playing at an elite level two weeks into the season, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic rank outside the top 15 in player efficiency rating.
- Houston Rockets surged to a 5-1 record with wins over both the Thunder and Spurs, positioning themselves as a serious contender amid the chaos at the top of the standings.
- More than a full roster of stars—including Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Paolo Banchero—have already missed multiple games due to injuries, fueling league-wide concern over player health and schedule intensity.
Why it matters: The Thunder, Spurs, and Knicks collectively saw their championship odds drop from 60% to 38% in two weeks, giving teams like the Rockets and Pistons leverage to pursue trades. With key stars injured and MVP candidates struggling, the window to challenge for a title may be wider than expected, making the trade deadline a critical juncture for contenders.
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