NBA MVP Race Player Rankings: Luka Doncic finally breaks in

Feb 8, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) speaks with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) speaks with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA, Luka Doncic
NBA, Luka Doncic Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Since last rank: 27.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 4.8 APG 2.0 BPG

Shooting splits: .549/.333/.743

The Milwaukee Bucks seem to be cooking now, and their MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is a big reason why. They’re on a four-game winning streak and have won seven of their last 10 games, and they are just 1.5 games back of the first-place Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference standings.

Giannis isn’t putting up spectacular numbers by his standards, but they’re fantastic by almost any other metric. His free throws are even starting to fall, making 74.3 percent of them over the past week. The playoffs are what really matters to this team, but all they can do is beat the team in front of them right now, and they’re doing a pretty good job of that.

Since last rank: N/A

Shooting splits: N/A

Kevin Durant has missed the last two games for the Brooklyn Nets after being taken out mid-game against the Toronto Raptors for contact tracing. It’s a ridiculous situation that you would think the NBA would be able to have avoided, but alas, here we are.

Durant is expected to be back in action this weekend, and his team will need him when he does return. The Nets are on a three-game losing streak after coming up short against the Raptors, the Sixers and the mighty Detroit Pistons.