The latest NBA MVP ladder has a new entry this week, with Jayson Tatum becoming part of the MVP conversation for the last weeks of the season.
On another note, Joel Embiid passed Nikola Jokic, becoming the top candidate to win the award, according to NBA.com. Embiid put together a great string of performances, registering at least 32 points, before finishing with 21 points in a loss Sunday to the Toronto Raptors.
He sat out the next game against Miami to return vs the Lakers with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Philadelphia sits just a half game behind Milwaukee at third in the East having a 26-8 record when Embiid scores 30 points or more.
Since the All-Star break, Tatum has raised his scoring average from 25.7 points to 32.1 on 50.7 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from deep to go with 7.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He is ranked no.4 in the MVP rankings. Boston owns the longest active winning streak in the East and holds the fourth spot in the Conference with Tatum dominating the offense.
Denver and Nikola Jokic are battling through tough times going 1-3 in the last week and dropping from the sixth seed, which leads to direct participation in the playoffs. The Nuggets dropped two in a row to Cleveland and Boston, before the reigning MVP racked up 30 points with 14 rebounds, and six assists Tuesday in the win vs the Clippers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed two of the last three games with knee soreness, but the Bucks remain a force to reckon, being in a position to reach the top seed of the East.
Against Chicago on Tuesday, Antetokounmpo tied a career-high with nine turnovers, but still put together a dominant performance with 25 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Milwaukee went 1-1 in the games Giannis missed during last week.
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