NBA MVP Power Rankings: Mavericks star Luka Doncic falls, who takes his place?

On Monday, the Dallas Mavericks took on the Utah Jazz. The first game of the new year didn't go according to plan for the Mavericks as they lost in blowout fashion 127-90.

In the near 40-point loss, not many things went right in the game. Head coach Jason Kidd quickly pointed out how complex the Jazz's defense was all night and how the Mavericks couldn't crack their defensive code.

NBA MVP Power Rankings: Mavericks star Luka Doncic falls, who takes his place?

Despite the loss, the Mavericks welcomed back star point guard Kyrie Irving with open arms as he missed almost a month with a heel contusion that he suffered against the Portland Trail Blazers. Irving didn't have much of a fingerprint in this game, but he would contribute 14 points and nine rebounds in his 32 minutes of playing time

Irving's absence saw the Mavs drop many games to higher competition. With Irving now back and the Mavericks' schedule only getting tougher, it will be critical he stays healthy. However, even if Irving is healthy, it's clear the Mavericks need a third star, which they may look to acquire via the trade market.

Even if the Mavericks don't acquire a third star by the trade deadline, they must upgrade at the forward position.

After weeks of carrying a heavy workload, MVP candidate Luka Doncic finally got some much-needed help. Despite the help, Doncic still had to carry a heavy workload. All night, he got teammates involved and would finish with 14 dimes after the game. However, Doncic failed to get himself going.

Doncic would finish with only 19 points and led all Mavericks in scoring. To the Jazz's credit, they made it difficult for any Mavericks to get in a rhythm. After a disappointing performance, this may affect Doncic's MVP rankings after the new year. Let's take a look at this week's top 10.

10. Kawhi Leonard

Last week's rank: 10

The claw once again has a strong week, and the LA Clippers are rolling because of it. Kawhi Leonard has led the Clippers to one of the top records in the West, and they currently hold a top-six seed if the season ended today.

9. Anthony Davis

Last week's rank: N/A

Anthony Davis joins the top 10 once again after a strong week. His Lakers have also won multiple games in a row, and it's in large part to what Davis has done on the defensive end.

8. Tyrese Haliburton

Last week's rank: 7

Tyrese Haliburton's dropping shouldn't be a negative. The young star has played amazing all season long, and it was no difference this past week. Unfortunately, he will drop one spot due to the players ahead of him playing that much better.

7. Anthony Edwards

Last week's rank: 9

Anthony Edwards finally has a breakout performance as he dropped 44 points against the Mavericks this past week. Edwards has proven to be the difference maker for this Timberwolves team.

6. Jayson Tatum

Last week's rank: 6

Jayson Tatum fails to move up once again after a week of winning. For many, he's the MVP favorite due to the Celtics' record. Tatum will need to show a lot more than just having the best record in the league if he expects to rise.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Last week's rank: 4

Just like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo lost his first game of the new year to the Indiana Pacers and fell one spot in this week's NBA MVP Power Rankings.

Despite the loss, Giannis has continued to put up historic numbers for the Bucks. He and Damian Lillard have combined to create one of the scariest duos in the NBA and have led their team to a 24-9 record, just two and a half games behind the best record in the league.

To close out 2023, Giannis averaged 32 and a half points per game in December and shot a career-high 70 percent from the field. While doing so, Giannis only lost two games in December.

In the past week, Giannis has been a force rebounding the ball. His highest rebounding game was 18, and that was in the loss to the Pacers. Despite this, he has continued to dominate on the boards and hasn't failed to reach double-digit rebounds in a single game in over two weeks.

Giannis has continued to shoot a career-high from the field, and it was no different this past week. In the blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets, Giannis dropped an astounding 83 percent from the field. He shot 12 total shots that game and had a near triple-double when the final buzzer rang.

Giannis will continue his MVP campaign in the following week as he will play the Pacers once again and then face off against two of the three Texas teams.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Last week's rank: 5

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has finally moved into the top four of the rankings after spending the last few weeks at the No. 5 spot.

Shai has once again put up amazing numbers, and it was no different this past week, which is why he moved up one spot in this week's MVP Power Rankings. On New Year's Eve, Shai proved just how vital he is for his Thunder squad as he finished with 24 points and directed traffic all night long.

Shai hasn't just played amazing this past week, but he has also led his team to multiple victories over great teams. This past week, the Thunder have captured wins against the top-seeded T-Wolves and defending champ, Denver Nuggets.

In those games, Shai scored 40 and 36 points. Defeating the top-seeded Western Conference team in blowout fashion and taking down the defending champs in the same week is no easy task. Shai not only made it look easy but proved why he is a top-five player in the process.

Additionally, Shai has proven to be a defensive monster around the perimeter, as he averaged over three steals in December. He currently leads the NBA in total steals by over 20. Shai continues to prove why he's the best player on the Thunder and a potential Defensive Player of The Year candidate.

The Thunder's upcoming schedule will look similar to last week's as they will play the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. If Shai and the Thunder manage to win this game, he will surely rise in the rankings.

3. Luka Doncic

Last week's rank: 2

Doncic continues to put up historic numbers for his team but will drop from the No. 2 spot after losing multiple games in the week.

Teams' performances are starting to affect MVP candidacy, and Doncic has been negatively affected because of this. After losing three out of four in this past week, Doncic will drop one spot. Even after a great win against the Golden State Warriors, Doncic will drop one spot after last night's blowout loss to the Jazz.

Despite dazzling the crowd with 14 assists, Doncic failed to get a good rhythm on offense and only finished with 19 points. This performance broke Doncic's 25-point streak of 19 games in a row.

Despite breaking his historic streak, Doncic finished the year off strong by averaging over 37 points in December. This monthly average proved to be a league-high and almost broke records at one point in time.

Doncic will need a bounce-back week, but with co-star Kyrie Irving back after missing almost a month of play, he will be poised to return to normal form. Doncic still needs to prove a lot if he expects to take the leap to lead the MVP race, but after a strong defensive game against the Warriors, fans have seen his true potential.

The Mavericks won't have it easy next week as they will need to play the Timberwolves once again. Hopefully, this time they will be at full strength with both Doncic and Irving playing. If Doncic has a big game against the T-Wolves, his name will rise.

2. Nikola Jokic

Last week's rank: 3

One of the highest risers in this week's list belongs to the defending champion, Nikola Jokic, after multiple good games.

Jokic and the Nuggets have continued to win games. After a slippage in early December, the Nuggets have rebounded by winning seven of their last eight. This streak includes a win in the new year against the Charlotte Hornets.

Jokic may not have had the best game by numbers, but his presence lifted the Nuggets over the Hornets in blowout fashion. Often just the presence of Jokic has affected games in a positive manner for the Nuggets, and the game against Charlotte was a great example of this.

Despite not having eye-popping stats in his last two games, Jokic has contributed a lot to winning for his team. Early last week, the Nuggets faced off against the streaky Memphis Grizzlies. Quickly, Jokic and the Nuggets put a stop to Ja's team and blew them out 142-105.

Jokic will need to continue dominating his opponents and play better if expects to rise in next week's rankings.

The Nuggets' next week of games will be interesting as they play the Warriors and the Orlando Magic. As mentioned before, Jokic will need to play well if he expects to rise in next week's rankings.

1. Joel Embiid

Last week's rank: 1

Despite missing a few games with an ankle injury, Joel Embiid will remain atop the competition in this week's power rankings.

Embiid has failed to appear in a game since before Christmas. Despite this news, Embiid will remain at the top due to his dominance at the beginning of the season. Fans may have forgotten, but Embiid's last performance ended in a near triple-double where he also logged four blocked shots.

Since Embiid's absence, the Sixers have just gone .500 for the week and a half he has been out. For a team that is competing atop the Eastern Conference, this isn't acceptable. However, this does make Embiid's MVP case stronger. It's a clear indication the Sixers need him to win games.

Fortunately for the 76ers, Embiid will return against the Chicago Bulls. Embiid has a lot to prove after missing four games. If he continues to dominate, his MVP candidacy will only get stronger.

To recap December for Embiid, he averaged over 40 points per game and only lost one total game while playing. The Sixers went 8-1 in the games Embiid played in.

Embiid will need to continue dominating if expects to remain number one next week. But after playing so well the last few weeks, it's hard to imagine Embiid anywhere but one. The Sixers' upcoming schedule will feature a primetime game against the New York Knicks. Embiid will be expected to play well if the Sixers are going to have any chance against the revamped Knicks team.

The Dallas Mavericks will have two home-and-home games against the Portland Trailblazers this coming week. For more updates on Mavericks basketball, stay plugged in.