Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Win His First MVP Award?
by Lou Aguila | by Tyler Doty
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Now No.1 on MVP Power Rankings.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as the favorite to win the NBA regular-season MVP after leading his team, the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, to an 8-2 record in their last 10 games.
Apart from averaging 32.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists over the last 10 games, the dynamic Canadian point guard has shot exceptionally well in this span, knocking down 54.8 percent of his shots and going 35.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Of course, the biggest reason he's now the frontrunner for the league's highest individual award is the impact he brings to his own every game.
The Thunder have solidified their position atop the Western Conference standings by winning 8 of their last 10 games. The two losses came at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers (122-129) in the battle between the top-2 teams in the NBA and the Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks (98-106), who took advantage of Gilgeous-Alexander's absence in the lineup.
In the latest KIA MVP Ladders published by NBA.com writer Shaun Powell, Gilgeous-Alexander has overtaken Denver Nuggets' do-it-all superstar Nikola Jokic on the MVP power ranking because of the Nuggets' recent success.
Powell explained that beating the defending champion Celtics 105-92 and the No.1 team Cavs 134-114 in their rematch has helped Gilgeous-Alexander claim the No.1 spot on the ladder.
"What a remarkable past few weeks, past month and season for Gilgeous-Alexander. He came close to beating both the defending champion Celtics and East-leading Cavaliers this past week. Both games were thrillers, and he played very well.
There's nothing more Gilgeous-Alexander could do to overtake Jokić than that. If anything, the gauntlet has been thrown and the bigger question is whether Gilgeous-Alexander can fend off Jokić, who will not go quietly, from this point forward. This race will be fascinating to watch, and fun, too."
By the way, this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the hottest picks in the NBA props betting market. Be sure to check our dedicated NBA prediction page for the latest tips on NBA moneyline, spread, total, and props betting.
Chet Holmgreen Injury Update
For related news about the OKC Thunder, second-year big man Chet Holmgren will be re-evaluated in 3 to 5 weeks as he continues to improve from a pelvic injury he suffered early this season.
Holmgreen, 22, hasn't played a game since sustaining a right iliac wing fracture after a hard fall during a game against the Golden State Warriors on November 10. The Thunder then announced that Holmgreen would be reevaluated in 8-10 weeks to determine if he was ready to rejoin the team.
Roughly 10 weeks since the injury, the Thunder confirmed on January 17 that Holmgreen will be reevaluated in 3-5 weeks, extending his injury layoff by several weeks.
Fortunately, the Thunder continue to thrive despite missing their defensive anchor and second-leading scorer before the injury. OKC has compiled an impressive 26-4 record without Holmgreen and occupied the No.1 spot in the Western Conference since mid-November
Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed a three-year, $87 million deal in the offseason, played a significant role in the Thunder's sustained success as he flourished on the team immediately. He averages 11.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game and shot 56.1 percent from the field in 24 games. But injuries have also derailed Hartenstein in his first season with the Thunder. Tim Bontempts of ESPN reported that Hartenstein suffered a left soleus strain in a game against the Sixers on January 14. He will be re-evaluated in one week.
The Thunder remain hopeful that Holmgreen and Hartenstein will become healthy for the postseason.
Nikola Jokic – The New Triple-Double Machine
Nikola Jokic posted his 18th season triple-double in the Nuggets’ 113-100 victory over the Orlando Magic on January 19.
The three-time MVP finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in 30 minutes of play. It was Jokic’s third straight triple-double and fifth in the month of January.
Jokic continues to be on pace to finish the season, averaging a triple-double. The Nuggets big is racking up 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists in 36.6 minutes per game. What is more impressive is that he has done all of that while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and turning the ball over 3.1 times per contest.
Many NBA experts think Jokic will be Gilgeous-Alexander’s fiercest rival for the MVP honors, especially if Denver keeps rising in the standings. The Nuggets currently rank fourth in the West with a 26-16 record, 9 games behind the Thunder.
“Jokić remains a high-level consistent performer for the Nuggets, and if Denver has finally turned the corner on their season, which appears to be the case, then he’ll have another strong case for a fourth MVP,” Powell stressed.
