Kia MVP Ladder: Joel Embiid leaps Nikola Jokic for top spot

27 points. 15 assists. 0 turnovers. Dagger 3-pointer. Tyrese Haliburton carves up the Bucks and sends the Pacers to the Championship.

Setting the stage this week is Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.

The 23-year-old drilled a dagger 3 near the end of Indiana’s 128-119 win over Milwaukee in the Semifinals of the In-Season Tournament, and immediately stared down at his right wrist.

“I know what time it is,” he yelled to a crowd of 16,837 at T-Mobile Arena.

The world does too after Haliburton put it on notice Thursday with 27 points sweetened by 15 dimes in leading the Pacers to Saturday’s In-Season Tournament Championship against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Haliburton scored a combined 53 points in matchups against juggernauts Boston and Milwaukee with 17 rebounds and 28 assists.

Most notably, he committed zero turnovers.

Absurd.

One stat to know: 5:43 – That’s Haliburton’s assist/turnover ratio. If that holds, it would be the highest mark for a player averaging at least 10 assists per game over the last 34 seasons since Muggsy Bogues averaged 10.7 dimes in 1989-90 with an assist/turnover ratio of 5.94.

What they’re saying: “The seven weeks he’s put together so far, people are talking about him for MVP, and rightfully so.” – Pacers coach Rick Carlisle

And now, the Top 5 in the 2023-24 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder. 

1. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

Season stats: 33.1 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 6.6 apg

His case: An illness limited the reigning Kia MVP to only one game this week, but he returned Wednesday with a vengeance. Embiid lit up the Wizards for 50 points, joining teammate Tyrese Maxey, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zach LaVine as the fourth player this season to rack up 50 points or more in a game.

Jot that performance down as Embiid’s sixth consecutive contest with 30 points or more.

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

Season stats: 28.6 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 9.8 apg

His case: The two-time MVP captured Western Conference Player of the Month for the seventh time in his career, but Denver is on a two-game skid.

Jokic led the NBA in total points earlier in the week as well as total rebounds and assists. He’s also produced two triple-doubles with 30 points or more and no turnovers over his last five outings. No other player in the last 40 years has accomplished that feat in multiple games.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. T-3

Season stats: 30.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.3 apg

His case: Most take note of Gilgeous-Alexander’s gaudy offensive numbers, which is understandable after watching the 25-year-old tally his 13th game Wednesday with 30-plus points. He’s connected on 61.3% from the field in his last two games.

The sixth-year vet is making a major impact defensively, too, having notched back-to-back outings with five-plus steals for the first time in his career going into Friday’s matchup against Golden State.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last week’s ranking: No. T-3

Season stats: 31.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 8.6 apg

His case: The man one rung above won the head-to-head battle on Saturday, but you can’t deny Doncic’s outrageous production as of late with consecutive triple-doubles.

Doncic’s latest 40-point triple-double masterpiece involved the 24-year-old piling up 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists by halftime. That marked Doncic’s first career triple-double in one half. Turnovers remain a concern, but the Mavs star passed Larry Bird (59) for ninth in all-time triple-doubles (60).

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

Season stats: 30.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 5.0 apg

His case: Haliburton generated the headlines, but Antetokounmpo cobbled together his 10th game of the season Thursday with 30-plus points and 10-plus rebounds to tie Jokic and Embiid for the league lead in such games.

We’ve mentioned that Antetokounmpo may need to contribute even more defensively. Well, the Bucks are in the midst of five consecutive games in which they’ve allowed 120 points or more.

The Next Five:

6. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (Last week: No. 6)7. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (Last week: No. 7)8. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (Last week: No. 8)9. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (Last week: No. 10)10. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (Last week: unranked)

And five more (listed alphabetically): Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers; De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings; Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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