Luka Doncic falls to 3rd in Kia MVP ladder on Dec. 9

The Dallas Mavericks have won three straight games, and they are finally starting to hit their stride. Luka Doncic has been unstoppable all season, and he leads the league in scoring. The Mavs outside shooting has been inconsistent, which has led to some spectacular wins and some head-scratching losses. The role players have stepped up as Dallas has won four of their last five, and they are back looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

Doncic was the MVP favorite coming into the season, and he has been in the thick of the race all the way. He took an early lead in the NBA.com Kia MVP ladder before slipping to second last week. The Mavs' early season struggles have hurt his cause more than Luka’s play. Dallas needs to be better if number 77 is going to win the award.

In the latest version, Doncic slipped to third. Here is a look at the latest rankings, and why Friday’s game could play a role in the race.

Luka Doncic falls in Kia MVP ladder on Dec. 9

Doncic dropped below Giannis Antetokounmpo to sit third on Dec. 9. Jayson Tatum still leads as the Celtics have the best record in the NBA. The Bucks have the second-best record, and both players are averaging over 30 points per game. Their team’s success has moved them ahead of Luka, but there is still a lot of season remaining.

The Mavericks face the Bucks on Friday in a nationally televised game on ESPN. It will be a massive piece of the MVP race. Expect Luka Doncic to put on a show, but can he outshine Giannis and led the Mavericks to a victory on their home floor? All eyes will be on Friday’s showdown, and the winner will likely be second in next week’s rankings.

Expect the MVP race to come down to the wire. It is far from over with five players scoring over 30 points per game and the standing so jam-packed. Luka Doncic needs to get the Dallas Mavericks back into the top four in the Western Conference and keep producing monster numbers if he wants to win his first NBA MVP honors. Stay tuned to see how it plays out.