Luka Doncic has been playing strong so far, and Dallas seems to be in good shape late in the regular season.
This week's settingas we enter the final month of the regular season in a mad dash for postseason seeding, the conversation about Kia MVP may change more than expected.
Luka Doncic is the face of Dallas' changing identity as a team that no longer lives or dies on the 3-point line, as he shows a commitment to building defense night after night while generating momentum with solid consistency. We're starting to see it now. Stop.
That's the key to the Mavs' rise to sixth place in the West, and they're on a 9-1 mark heading into Friday's game in Sacramento.10pm ET, NBA TV).
Doncic and other MVP candidates will lead their respective teams on Friday, and get ready for a 12-game stretch with at least seven games with serious implications for the postseason.
Clinging to fading playoff hopes, the Lakers will play No. 6 Indiana on the road (7pm ET, NBA TV). The fourth-seeded LA Clippers, who have lost two of their past three games, will play the second game of a four-game road trip in Orlando (7 ET, NBA League Pass) as New Orleans and Dallas follow suit in the Western Conference standings.
Then Cleveland has Philadelphia (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass), Phoenix, Oklahoma City (8 ET, NBA League Pass) and a showdown between Western powerhouses Minnesota and Denver at Ball Arena (9 ET, NBA League Pass) is top seeded.
So let everything soak in.
By the end of the night, your story surrounding Kia MVP, like the recent thought-provoking discussion on TNT between Shaquille O'Neal, Adam Lefkow, Candice Parker, and Jamal Crawford may end up all over the place.
That's not a mistake.
One statistic you should know: 44 — Doncic, a five-time All-Star, ranks third in NBA history with 30-point triple-doubles. The 25-year-old has more 30-point triple-doubles than four active players (LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and James Harden) who have combined for nine MVP awards. There is.
What they are saying: “We're all big fans of each other and I think that's the best thing. We had a good trade deadline. We come together at the right time. We're all big fans of each other and I think that's the best thing. I don't take for granted what I'm doing.'' — Dallas guard Kyrie Irving on the atmosphere surrounding the Mavs
Still rising: If you've made it this far in Kia's race to the MVP ladder, you know that it was Doncic who passed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the end. Oklahoma City has lost two of its last three games, with Gilgeous-Alexander missing Wednesday's loss to the Houston Rockets as he battles a quadriceps injury.
Track your MVP ranking over time continue to evolve throughout the season.
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Last week's ranking: No.1
Season statistics: 26.1 games, 12.2 RPGs, 9 apps
In his case: The two-time MVP continues to work hard despite suffering from left hip and lower back pain. However, Denver has won four of its past five games prior to Friday's game against Minnesota. In the four games he played during that span, Jokic averaged 29 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
The Nuggets suffered a setback on Wednesday, losing to Phoenix for the second time this month. The Timberwolves are just a half-game behind in the West Division.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Last week's ranking: T-3
Season statistics: 33.1ppg, 9.1rpg, 9.8apg
In his case: There's still work to be done, but the wins are finally starting to match the 25-year-old's otherworldly work. Throughout Dallas' 9-1 run, Doncic averaged 29.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 10 APG, and 1.7 PPG.
Of course, the team's only loss during that span was March 14 against Oklahoma City, a game Doncic missed with a sore left hamstring. After Friday's matchup in Sacramento, the Mavs will travel to Houston on Sunday to take on the hotly contested Rockets.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week's ranking: No.2
Season statistics: 30.4rpg, 5.6rpg, 6.3apg
In his case: The injury report for Friday's home game against Phoenix doesn't look good, with Gilgeous-Alexander listed as questionable with a right quadriceps contusion. He was injured over a week ago, but tried to continue playing through the pain.
This setback comes at a critical time. After facing the Suns, the Thunder will play five consecutive games on the road, including games in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Indiana.
Four. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Last week's ranking: T-3
Season statistics: 30.7 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 6.4 apg
In his case: Antetokounmpo will fight hard. But despite the eight-time All-Star averaging 31.3 points and 16.3 rebounds in his last three games, the two-time MVP needs help as Milwaukee loses its second straight game. .
Antetokounmpo scored 20 points in a row in the third quarter of Thursday's loss to New Orleans, but didn't make a shot until 28.7 seconds left in the fourth. By comparison, Zion Williamson scored 11 of his 28 points in the final frame.
5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Last week's ranking: No.5
Season statistics: 27.3rpg, 8.3rpg, 4.9apg
In his case: Tatum and the Celtics suffered their second loss to Atlanta in four days Thursday, losing 123-122 in overtime in a game that featured the second-most lead changes (41) since the 2000-01 season. The five-time All-Star had a team-high 31 points and 13 rebounds.
But the loss was Boston's first since March 7, when Tatum, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis started.
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6. Domantas Sabonis, sacramento kings (Last week's ranking: 6th place)
7. Kevin DurantPhoenix Suns (Last week's ranking: 8th place)
8. Devin BookerPhoenix Suns (Last week's ranking: 9th place)
9. Anthony DavisLos Angeles Lakers (Last week's ranking: Not ranked)
10. Kawhi LeonardLA Clippers (Last week's ranking: 7th place)
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers.Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer at NBA.com.you can email him herefind his archives here and follow him twitter.
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