This week, attention is on Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, who bounced back from a subpar performance in New Orleans to deliver a stellar 26-point, 10-assist performance against Washington. This impressive display came on the second night of a back-to-back set without Kyrie Irving (left foot).
Doncic showcased his scoring prowess with 21 first-half points, marking his sixth 20-point half of the season, the best in the NBA. A notable statistic is the Mavericks’ unbeaten record (6-0) in clutch time, where Doncic plays a crucial role, shooting 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in such situations this season. In the 2022-23 season, Dallas had a 26-29 record in clutch games, but this year, they have turned things around with a 6-0 record.
As of Thursday, the Mavericks boast a 9-3 record, securing the second spot in the Western Conference, with their success attributed in part to their performance in close games. Doncic leads the team in clutch scoring, surpassing the combined clutch points of any two teammates. Surprisingly, he has significantly improved his clutch 3-point shooting this season, hitting 71.4% compared to previous seasons.
Despite taking challenging 3-pointers, Doncic’s early-season success stands out. Coach Jason Kidd praised the team’s maturity and execution, particularly considering the challenges of a demanding schedule.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the top 5 players in the 2022-23 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder:
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
– Season stats: 30.0 ppg, 13.9 rpg, 8.4 apg
– Jokic, a two-time Kia MVP, continues to dominate with four consecutive games of 30 points or more.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
– Season stats: 30.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.1 apg
– Doncic leads the league’s second-highest scoring offense and has made strategic changes to elevate Dallas’ pace.
3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
– Season stats: 31.9 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 5.8 apg
– Despite a recent loss to Boston, Embiid remains a strong contender, named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
– Season stats: 28.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.1 apg
– Tatum remains a consistent force for the Celtics, achieving the milestone of 10,000 points before the age of 26.
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
– Season stats: 28.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 6.0 apg
– Leading the NBA’s third-youngest team, Gilgeous-Alexander excels in scoring and steals.
The next five and honorable mentions round out the list of standout performers in the current NBA season.
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