Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are ranked No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, in the latest Kia MVP Ladder.
Setting the stage this week is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carrying a prolific scoring tear into Oklahoma City’s matchup Friday (9 ET, NBA League Pass) with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the penultimate clash of their regular-season series.
The Thunder star enters the game having scored 30 points or more in nine of his last 10 games while averaging 33.4 points over that span with 5.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 3.3 steals.
The 25-year-old faces a defending champion who presumably knows how to keep him in check.
The season series is tied 1-1 and Denver has limited Gilgeous-Alexander to numbers below his season averages (16 ppg, 5 rpg, 7.5 apg and 1.5 spg) outside of assists.
One stat to know: 6-1 — That’s the Nuggets’ record on the second night of a back-to-back. So, after Denver dominated a feisty Memphis squad on Thursday, OKC faces a battle. The Nuggets are shooting 48.7% on FGs and 39.2% from deep on no rest.
What they’re saying: “Always be composed, always think next play and always focus on winning. I try to just focus on those things.” — Gilgeous-Alexander, after scoring 36 points Wednesday in a win over the Knicks.
And now, the Top 5 in the 2023-24 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder.
1. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 35.0 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 6.0 apg
His case: Embiid hasn’t played since Dec. 22 due to a sprained right ankle and stayed back in the Philadelphia area during the team’s current four-game road trip to receive treatment. Sixers coach Nick Nurse said the reigning MVP is back on the court working out.
But there’s a good chance we won’t see Embiid on the floor again until 2024, when Philadelphia hosts the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 2.
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 26.3 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9.2 apg
His case: Jokic and the Nuggets host Oklahoma City riding a season-high six-game winning streak after the big man dropped his third career triple-double Thursday in which he shot 100% from the floor. The 26-14-10 showing marked just the fourth triple-double since 1954-55 that featured 25 points or more and 100% on FGs.
By the way, the two-time MVP owns two of those performances.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 30.8 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 5.6 apg
His case: The two-time former MVP produced his second game of the season Wednesday with 30-plus points on 80% from the field. He also appears poised to make NBA history as the first player to average 30 points or more on 60% shooting in a season.
With Antetokounmpo serving as the engine, Milwaukee is averaging franchise-highs in points per game (125.2), offensive rating (121.2) and effective field goal percentage (58.2%).
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 31.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.5 apg
His case: The third player to average 30-plus points and 2.5 steals per game through the first 25 outings of a season, Gilgeous-Alexander could become the first in league history to average 30 points or more on 55% shooting with 2.5 steals per game.
The OKC guard produced a 7-for-16 clunker the first time the Thunder faced Denver on Oct. 29. But he redeemed himself in the next meeting with a 25-point effort on Dec. 16 in Denver.
5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Season stats: 33.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 9.2 apg
His case: Doncic gifted a 50-point double-double in Phoenix on Christmas Day and followed by dropping 39 points Wednesday in a loss to Cleveland, scoring 20 in the opening frame. The first-quarter explosion marked his third 20-point quarter this season, which is tops in the NBA.
Doncic sat out Thursday’s loss at Minnesota while nursing a left quadriceps injury he aggravated on Christmas Day.
The Next Five:
6. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (Last week: No. 6)
7. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last week: No. 10)
8. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (Last week: No. 7)
9. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week: unranked)
10. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (Last week: unranked)
And five more (listed alphabetically): Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns; De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks; Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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