Joel Embiid has scored 30 or extra factors in 6 of his final 7 video games.
Kevin Durant made his debut within the high three at Kia Race to the MVP ladder final weeksolely to search out just a few scores by way of no fault of his personal on this newest model.
Durant A Proper MCL torsion Sunday in a win in Miami that’s anticipated to place him away for a number of weeks. However the Brooklyn Nets took the chance on Thursday to tackle the very best crew within the league of their first recreation since December 10 with out the MVP of 2014.
“Our mentality is who’s going to be subsequent within the schedule,” Nets coach Jack Vaughn mentioned shortly earlier than his crew info. 109-98 loss for the Boston Celtics. “It simply so occurs that it is the high crew within the league now. I believe it places us in an important mind set that we all know if we’re not prepared, we’ll be embarrassed.
“We all know if we do not have our most effort, we’ll be embarrassed. We all know that if we do not play tougher than the man subsequent to you, you are going to be embarrassed. So, nice entry into the Kevin-less video games we’ll be enjoying.”
Brooklyn hopes to get out of it quickly, although, if final season was any indication of what may occur subsequent.
Durant sprained his left MCL close to mid-January final season and did not return till March 3 after Brooklyn misplaced 11 straight and 16 of 21 video games with the star on the sidelines. The crew nonetheless hopes Durant’s newest setback will not be as vital as final season’s knee harm.
Nevertheless, the anticipated lengthy absence of the 34-year-old opens the door to the highest 5 for an additional participant who has been considerably restricted this season because of accidents.
Joel Embiid completed with 30 factors within the Sixers’ loss to the Thunder on Thursday.
Philadelphia 76ers middle Joel Embiid debuted fifth of this week’s Kia race to the MVP ladder, after making his thirtieth look of the season and dropping 30 factors Thursday in a. 133-114 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Of all the present top-five candidates, Embiid has featured within the fewest variety of matches, whereas each different participant besides Giannis Antetekounmpo (35 matches) has competed in a minimum of 38 matches for his or her crew.
Even Durant confirmed strong toughness previous to Sunday’s harm by enjoying in 39 of Brooklyn’s first 40 video games.
As for Embiid, the Sixers huge man returned in usually dominant fashion Tuesday in a win over the Detroit Pistons, tallying his twentieth 30-point efficiency of the season, whereas including 11 rebounds and two blocks after lacking the earlier three contests because of a sore left foot.
“I am high-quality, higher than anticipated,” Embiid mentioned of the foot ache after the sport, including that he nonetheless has to “handle” it.
36 factors | 11 REB | 2 BLK
Nice efficiency from an important comrade. vote @worker For NBA All-?: https://t.co/dy1hdG6pzF
? introduce it @worker pic.twitter.com/4Qo3VVz83R
– Philadelphia 76ers (sixers) January 11, 2023
Previous to Embiid’s closing three-match layoff, he had performed 16 consecutive matches after lacking 4 matches in late November with a foot harm. It is usually value noting that Embiid was I slowed down earlier within the season By a non-seasonal bout with plantar fasciitis that isn’t associated to his final foot drawback.
So, whereas Embiid’s long-awaited return to the highest 5, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic maintains his agency maintain on No. 1 atop Kia’s race to MVP ladder. Plus, Luka Doncic rose to quantity two due to a gutsy efficiency Thursday night time in a double additional time street win towards the Lakers.
Jason Tatum fell to 3rd regardless of his crew’s five-game profitable streak, and Giannis Antetokounmpo moved up an inch to fourth.
And now, the highest 5 locations in Kia’s 2022-23 race to MVP ladder:
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Final week’s rating: No. 1
Season stats: 24.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 9.7 apg
A part of what makes Jokic so attention-grabbing to look at is that you simply will not see any constant filling from the 27-year-old. It does no matter it takes to win on any given night time, like Monday, when it is turn into The primary participant within the historical past of the NBA With 15+ triple assists and no missed subject targets. Two nights later, Jokic completed with 21 factors, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists in a win over Phoenix and did not even play within the fourth quarter as Denver pulled away with its eleventh win in its final 13 video games, shedding over 120 factors. The eighth consecutive contest at house. The Nuggets are tied with Memphis for the convention lead and the very best home file within the NBA (18-3).
Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrin talk about Nikola Jokic’s glorious case for profitable his third consecutive Participant of the 12 months award.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Final week’s rating: Quantity 3
Season stats: 34.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 8.8 apg
Doncic tallied 27 factors over the primary three quarters to complete with 30 triple-double in regulation, together with Step again 3 indicators from 27 toes to pressure each overtimes in Thursday’s 119-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks star completed with 35 factors, 14 rebounds and 13 assists over a gritty 53 minutes, saying after the sport, “I believe it was very bodily.” little question. The efficiency marked Doncic’s tenth triple-double and propelled him up the MVP ladder as Dallas snapped a two-game skid. The Mavericks began the brand new 12 months with a seven-game profitable streak, however have since misplaced three of their final 5 video games.
Luka Doncic comes off the clutch twice and the Mavs keep sturdy in a 119-115 two-overtime win towards the Lakers.
3. Jason Tatum, Boston Celtics
Final week’s rating: Quantity 2
Season stats: 30.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.2 apg
Dribbling in entrance of 4 defenders Bucket It is powerful for positive, however extra importantly, the 24-year-old continues to assist Boston rack up wins. The Celtics have gained 5 in a row and 9 of their final 11 with Tatum averaging 29.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 5.6 apg over the streak. “Everybody has to sacrifice to be on an important crew,” Tatum mentioned after defeating Brooklyn on Thursday. “No particular person stat or award can measure as much as being on a profitable crew having a superb time. There may be nothing higher than that.” Web dominance could not be dangerous both, contemplating Boston gained their final 5 common season encounters with Brooklyn after sweeping the membership final season within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Steve Smith and Sam Mitchell talk about Jason Tatum’s probabilities of taking house the Kia Participant of the 12 months award this season.
4. Giannis Antitekounmo, Milwaukee Bucks
Final week’s rating: no 5
Season stats: 31.0 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 5.3 apg
Antetokounmpo was knocked out of Milwaukee’s 108-102 loss at Miami on Thursday with a sore left knee, with 11 gamers from each groups lacking for varied causes. In opposition to the Warmth, the Bucks have been enjoying the second night time of a back-to-back tour of their present week-long street journey. The night time earlier than, the two-time season MVP scored seven factors in a 114-105 win in Atlanta however Lead the crew as facilitator With 18 rebounds and 10 assists. For the reason that final Kia Race fall to the MVP Ladder, Antetokounmpo has amassed two single-digit scoring nights constructed round a 22-point, 10-rebound efficiency in a win over the Knicks, after amassing a complete of 128 factors within the earlier three contests.
Halfway by way of the common season, have a look again at a few of Giannis Antetokounmbos’ finest performs to this point!
5. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Final week’s rating: No. 6
Season stats: 33.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.4 apg
We famous Embiid’s 30-point efficiency in Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma Metropolis, however it’s value noting that the 76ers middle performed solely 10 minutes within the first half because of a foul concern, but nonetheless managed to place collectively a bloated stat streak that included This dangerous block. Embiid performed a key function in slicing the 16-point deficit to begin the fourth quarter to 6 with 4:31 left to play, scoring 12 of his 20 second-half factors within the closing body alone for a 3-for-3 outing. and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Two days in the past, the 28-year-old dropped 36 factors with 11 boards in practically 24 minutes of motion towards the Pistons.
Joel Embiid is available in with 36 factors towards Detroit on Jan. 10.
The next 5:
6. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (Final week’s rating: No. 3)
7. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (Final week’s rating: tied for seventh)
8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (Final week’s rating: tied for seventh)
9. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (Final week’s rating: No. 9)
10. Shay Gilgos Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (Final week’s rating: Unranked)
And 5 extra (in alphabetical order): Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers; Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz; Julius Randle, New York Knicks; Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You may e-mail him right hereDiscover his archive right here and comply with him Twitter.
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