NBA MVP Power Rankings: New No. 1 emerges after spectacular week

Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks / Ron Jenkins/GettyImages
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The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a 125-107 blowout victory over their in-state rival Houston Rockets. The Rockets had previously won 11 games in a row and positioned themselves for a potential Play-In berth before playing the Mavericks. The Mavericks not only ended the Rockets' 11-game streak, but they dominated all 48 minutes of their Sunday matchup.

Throughout the Mavericks' 11-1 stretch, it has become clear to fans and media that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving could be one of the most feared duos in the league. Against the Rockets, the two combined for 71 points and made 13 threes in the winning effort. It finally feels like the two are playing with one another instead of taking turns handling the ball and scoring.

During Sunday's match, Irving became the perfect co-star alongside Doncic and constantly played as the decoy while Doncic shredded the Rockets' defense.

NBA MVP Power Rankings: New No. 1 emerges after spectacular week

If the Mavericks can continue playing this level of basketball for the remaining eight games on the schedule, then they could position themselves for a late postseason run. The Mavericks are currently half a game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

One major reason the Mavericks have become so dominant over the last month has been because of Irving and his leadership abilities. He has consistently been one of the leading voices in the locker room and even helped Tim Hardaway Jr. regain confidence after a concerning shooting slump.

While the regular season narrows down and the MVP race tightens up, let's take a look at this week's NBA MVP Power Rankings and see what's shaken up over the last two weeks.

10. Anthony Davis

Last rank: 10

Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers continue to inch closer to the eighth seed. After the Kings' recent struggles, the eight seed could finally be in reach for Davis and the Lake show.

9. Kawhi Leonard

Last rank: 7

After having a scary streak of losing multiple games in a row, Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers are back on track and have jumped out to a two-game cushion for homecourt advantage. If the Clippers continue rolling, expect Leonard's name to be in All-NBA conversations.

8. Kevin Durant

Last rank: 9

Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns are finally looking like the powerhouse they were meant to be in October. The Suns find themselves within striking distance of the sixth seed after dominating the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

7. Devin Booker

Last rank: 8

Devin Booker jumps past his fellow teammate in the MVP rankings after a dominant 52-point game and leading the Suns to a critical win over the Pelicans. The Suns have strung together multiple wins in a row and even beat the defending champs in their recent stretch.

6. Domantas Sabonis

Last rank: 5

Despite dropping back-to-back triple-doubles in the losses to Dallas, Domantas Sabonis will drop after multiple underwhelming performances in primetime games. Sabonis and the Kings will need to get back on the right track after their recent two-game skid to the Mavericks.


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