Kia MVP Ladder: Joel Embiid charges back into the mix

Joel Embiid is averaging 29.5 ppg since returning to the Sixers’ lineup on April 3.

Responding to Joel Embiid’s pre-game declaration on Tuesday that he’s again, Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers deadpanned: “I seen.”

We did, too, in welcoming again Embiid to the highest 5 of this week’s Kia Race to the MVP Ladder. Embiid checks in at No. 3, partially attributable to James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo lacking time this week due to accidents.

“I’ve nonetheless received a protracted solution to go to get again to the place I used to be earlier than I received harm,” Embiid mentioned, after dropping 35 factors in dominating style to assist the Sixers defeat the Boston Celtics 106-96 in simply his second sport again from a bone bruise in his left knee. “I’m not all the way in which there, however tonight was a giant step.”

The victory over Boston lifted Philadelphia to a season-series sweep of the Celtics, the workforce that swept the 76ers in the first round of the 2020 playoffs. Embiid averaged 38.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg within the three matchups with Boston, and related on 60.4% from the sector, making him one in all simply three gamers across the league to perform that feat this season towards the Celtics.

Coincidentally, the opposite two — Nikola Jokic and Kyrie Irving — can be discovered among the many prime 10 on this week’s Kia Race to the MVP Ladder. Jokic retains the No. 1 spot, whereas Irving stays on the cusp of cracking the highest 5. He’s tied at No. 6 with Luka Doncic, who helped Dallas bounce again from a tough loss at Houston with a win Thursday towards Milwaukee.

Harden falls again two spots to fifth, after lacking three of his final 4 video games with a strained proper hamstring, and Antetokounmpo — having sat out of three consecutive contests with a sore knee — slips again a slot to No. 4. Damian Lillard narrowly clings to the No. 2 spot, however he is likely to be on the way in which out of the highest 5 after sputtering in three straight video games.

Nonetheless, it’s a wide-open race now that Embiid’s again within the combine, and as you’ll be able to see here, there’s nonetheless no actual consensus on the favourite to win the Kia MVP, even amongst among the league’s all-time greats. LeBron James did concern a warning by way of a cryptic post on Instagram that means he’ll quickly be leaping again into the hunt, too, together with teammate Anthony Davis.

And now, the High 5 this week within the 2020-21 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 26.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 8.7 apg, 1.5 spg

No Jamal Murray within the lineup on Wednesday, however that didn’t cease Jokic and the Nuggets from capturing their seventh straight win, a 106-96 determination over the Spurs, as they rolled to 16-3 over their final 19 video games. Probably the most constant participant within the subject of Kia MVP candidates, Jokic put collectively his 18th game this season with 25 factors or extra and 10-plus rebounds for a Denver squad that possesses arguably probably the most potent offensive trio (Jokic, Murray and Michael Porter Jr.) within the league. Regardless of Murray sitting out the final two video games attributable to proper knee soreness, Jokic continues to hold the Nuggets.

2. Damian Lillard, Portland Path Blazers

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 29.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 7.7 apg

He’s struggled for 3 consecutive video games, with the Blazers shedding two in a row. However attrition retains Lillard on this spot, contemplating the missed time and accidents to Harden and Antetokounmpo, to not point out the very fact he’s gutted his manner by way of numerous bumps and bruises, sitting out simply two video games all the season. It’s value noting that Portland is now 1-8 towards groups presently sitting within the prime 5 of the Western Convention. Lillard has shot 16 of fifty from the sector his final three video games and completed along with his second-lowest scoring whole of the season (11 factors) Tuesday in a loss to the Clippers.

3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Last week’s ranking: No. 7

Season stats: 29.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 bpg, 1.1 spg

There’s little doubt Philadelphia welcomed again Embiid with open arms, however as colleague Shaun Powell identified here: The Sixers had already confirmed adept at successful video games with out the star large man. Embiid definitely hasn’t missed a beat since his return, averaging 29.5 factors in his two video games again. Embiid knocked down an unimaginable 16 free throws in a win Tuesday towards Boston, which as a workforce took a complete of simply 18 makes an attempt from the foul line. Embiid claims he’s still trying to win the Kia Defensive Player of the Year, and that makes the person a terror on each ends of the ground.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

Season stats: 28.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.3 bpg, 1.1 spg

He missed his third-straight sport Thursday attributable to left knee soreness, because the Bucks dominated out the two-time reigning Kia MVP roughly 90 minutes earlier than tipoff in Dallas. Antetokounmpo has missed five of Milwaukee’s last 10 contests, however he’s scored 25 factors or extra in every of the final three video games he’s been in a position to play, including a 47-point effort on April 2 in a victory towards Portland. Is Antetokounmpo’s newest damage setback trigger for concern? Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned, “my intestine is it’s not one thing that we’re overly involved about.” So, we’ll see.

5. James Harden, Brooklyn Nets

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

Season stats: 25.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 10.9 apg, 1.2 spg

Accidents instantly dropped LeBron James and Embiid down our listing earlier this season. So, we’ll be per Harden, contemplating the Nets announced Tuesday the star can be out roughly 10 days attributable to a proper hamstring pressure. Brooklyn plans to re-evaluate Harden after the preliminary timeframe it introduced. So, Harden may miss someplace within the neighborhood of 5 outings over the subsequent couple of weeks, together with a matchup towards the Lakers on Saturday and an April 14 clash at Philadelphia. The hamstring already saved Harden out of the 2 video games previous to him tweaking it Monday towards the Knicks.

Acquired ideas on the Kia MVP chase? Hit me up via e-mail or send me a tweet!

The Subsequent 5

T-6. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

T-6. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

7. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

8. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

9. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

10. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

And 5 extra: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz; Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; Jimmy Butler, Miami Warmth; Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans.

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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You’ll be able to e-mail him here, discover his archive here and comply with him on Twitter.

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