NBA MVP Power Rankings: Jayson Tatum rises after recent success, who drops?

On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks took on the New Orleans Pelicans for their first of two matchups at home. The Mavericks were 4-1 in their current seven-game home stand and will close out this streak with two games against the Pelicans.

Similarly to how the Mavs lost to the Grizzlies earlier this week, they would lose to the Pelicans 118-108. The Grizzlies were without Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., while the Pelicans were without their big three of Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram.

The Mavs played down to their competition, which is unacceptable given how tight the Western Conference is. Despite being without star player Luka Doncic for a second straight game, the Mavericks would come out flat and tired.

NBA MVP Power Rankings: Jayson Tatum rises after recent success, who drops?

Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., and Tim Hardaway Jr. all had respectable games, but it was no match for the Pelicans. New Orleans dominated the glass and inside the paint. On the perimeter, rookie guard Jordan Hawkins once again torched the Mavs for 34 points.

With two embarrassing losses to shorthanded teams, fans have called for moves to be made. Dallas has been surrounded by rumors regarding Toronto's Pascal Siakam. Siakam could be the key to unlocking the Mavs' true potential but his asking price could be too much for Nico Harrison.

With both Dereck Lively II and Doncic missing multiple games now, it's clear the front office needs to make moves. Both Lively II and Doncic will likely be out for Monday's game against the Pelicans, but after their recent slip without Doncic, this could affect his MVP placement. Let's take a look at this week's MVP Power Rankings.

10. Tyrese Haliburton

Last week's rank: 7

Despite the Pacers' recent winning streak, Tyrese Haliburton will drop. The young guard needs to reach another level if he wants to be engaged in MVP conversations on a consistent basis.

9. Anthony Edwards

Last week's rank: 8

The Timberwolves have proven to be an elite team, but can they contend when it comes to the playoffs? Minnesota's recent struggles against good teams could prove otherwise. Anthony Edwards has played great throughout the season but has failed to lead his team to a marquee victory this season.

8. Kawhi Leonard

Last week's rank: N/A

The Clippers are not discussed enough when it comes to the best teams in the league. The Clippers are now 17-3 in their last 20 games and don't seem to be slowing down. Kawhi Leonard has proven he can tap into his 2019 self for months on end now.

7. Domantas Sabonis

Last week's rank: 9

Domantas Sabonis has led his Sacramento Kings to one of the top records in the West and has showcased why he is the number one player on his team. Sabonis leads all players in rebounding this season and is only getting better.

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Last week's rank: 5

Losing four out of your last eight games is not a good sign if you want to rise in the MVP rankings. Giannis Antetokounmpo has still played amazingly but has failed to make an impact when it matters most, causing him to fall from the No. 5 spot.

5. Jayson Tatum

Last week's rank: 6

Jayson Tatum has been on an absolute roll since the New Year began. He's led his Celtics to a 4-3 record and has dominated while doing it, scoring almost 30 points per game in the six contests he's played, which is why he has risen in this week's rankings.

On Thursday, The Boston Celtics took on the Milwaukee Bucks in a battle between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Many fans and media figures dubbed this matchup the Eastern Conference Finals preview. Unfortunately, this game would not live up to expectations, and the Bucks would dominate the Celtics.

It was an overall frustrating game for the Celtics, and they would end up benching their starters after the first half. The game got so bad that TNT cut away to the Mavericks-Knicks game for a brief moment.

Despite getting dominated by the second-best team in the East, the Celtics would bounce back in dominant fashion over the Houston Rockets. Tatum would have an amazing game against the Rockets but would get tossed out of the game after a blatant missed call by the referee.

Before getting ejected and scoring only seven points against the Bucks, Tatum was rolling over teams. He scored 38 points in a dominate win over the Indiana Pacers and followed that up with a 45-point game over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Tatum still has work to do if he expects to rise on this list, but he has all the intangibles to make for a great MVP run.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Last week's rank: 4

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to make a strong run at the MVP this season, and it was no different after yet another dominant week, helping him keep the No. 4 spot.

Shai and the Thunder continue to steamroll over opponents as they are now on a four-game winning streak. Head coach Mark Daigneault has become a front-runner for Head Coach of the Year, while Shai has become a front-runner for MVP for some fans.

On Thursday, the Thunder completed one of the largest blowouts in history, defeating the Portland Trailblazers 139-77. This 62-point victory is only the begging of what the Thunder have done all season long.

They would follow up the win over the Blazers with a convincing win over the Orlando Magic. Orlando has been the surprise team this season, so seeing Shai and the Thunder dominate was a surprise for many fans.

Shai hasn't let off the gas one bit, as he has averaged 33 points per game during January. The season is still young, but fans are starting to catch on to just how dominant Shai has become. Defensively, the 25-year-old has been nothing short of amazing. He has averaged just under two and a half steals per game.

Offensively, Shai has been shooting the lights out. If the season ended today, Shai would be shooting his best career splits at 55 percent from the field. The Thunder will play a struggling Los Angeles Lakers team on Monday.

3. Luka Doncic

Last week's rank: 3

Despite missing the Mavericks' last two games, Luka Doncic will retain the No. 3 spot by a slim margin.

Doncic has now missed two critical games on the Mavericks schedule. The team has kept afloat despite their superstar missing time, but after losing to the shorthanded Pelicans, its clear Dallas needs him back.

In his last game played the Mavericks would embarrassingly lose to the Memphis Grizzlies in blowout fashion. Memphis was without Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Doncic still dazzled with 31 points, but it was to no avail as the Mavs got dominated inside the paint.

Doncic has proven to be this team's leader, as they have fallen to 2-3 without Doncic in their lineup. This season, Doncic has not only proven to be the best player on the Mavericks but one of the best players in general, as he is second in the total scoring column.

Doncic will need to rebound after missing two critical games and dropping off in the month of January. It shouldn't take long for the Mavericks to get back on track and start winning games again with Doncic back from injury.

Defensively, Doncic has looked much improved since last year. He has had multiple games where he has led the Mavericks in steals and blocks. He has also done a much better job defending around the perimeter and keeping defenders guessing. Dallas will play the Pelicans again on Monday, where Doncic is doubtful to play.

2. Joel Embiid

Last week's rank: 2

Joel Embiid has now missed two weeks of basketball with a knee injury, and it's unclear when he will return to action. The 76ers have struggled without their superstar, but Tyrese Maxey has proven to be a lead guard in his new role.

Embiid's last game was on January 5, where he played the New York Knicks. Despite dropping 30 points, Embiid and the Sixers would get dominated by the Knicks and their new lineup. Since Embiid's absence, the Sixers have won just one game.

Going 1-2 without your star player is to be expected, but when you are trying to compete at the top of the East, you need to win the challenging games. If Embiid misses yet another week of basketball, his name could slip once again, and he could start to get close to the NBA's minimum number of games played.

Over the offseason, the NBA enacted a rule that you need to play at least 65 games if you wish to win any award. This new rule was meant to target star players like Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid, players who traditionally take time off to rest. Embiid has missed time with a serious injury, but he could be out of the running before fans know it if he continues to miss valuable time.

The 76ers will play the Houston Rockets on Monday in a matinee affair. Embiid is currently doubtful to play, which could reflect in his next week's MVP ranking. If Luka Doncic can get healthy soon and return to playing at a high level, Embiid's No. 2 spot could be in jeopardy.

1. Nikola Jokic

Last week's rank: 1

After retaking the No. 1 spot in last week's rankings, Nikola Jokic has started to run away with the MVP award.

Jokic hasn't just dominated in January, but he has led the Nuggets to a 4-2 record in the New Year. The Nuggets are riding high after dominating the New Orleans Pelicans on national television. The 12-point victory was capped off with a Jokic triple-double, his first since late December.

Jokic finished the night with 27 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Nuggets finally looked like themselves, and it was in front of a national audience. Before Friday's game, Jokic would have yet another impactful performance against the Jazz. Utah would end up winning, but Jokic finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

While also being a beast on offense, Jokic has also improved defensively this season. On Sunday, the Nuggets would take on the Detroit Pistons in a very winnable game. The Nuggets didn't just dominate, but Jokic would finish with five blocks, a season high for the Serbian.

The Nuggets must ride high on their recent success because they will draw three tough matchups next week. On Sunday, they will play the hot Indiana Pacers and will attempt to put an end to Haliburton's magic. They will follow that up with two consecutive national television games against the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

A lot will be on the line for Jokic and the Nuggets next week. For more updates on the MVP race and Dallas Mavericks basketball, stay plugged in.