NBA MVP Rankings: The top 5 contenders in the award race at the start of the new year

With one week left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, playoff seeding in the Western Conference is still up for grabs, with five teams vying for four spots. The Thunder and Rockets have secured playoff berths, while the Lakers lead the West's No. 3 seed. In the East, the Pistons clinched a playoff spot, with the Cavaliers likely to take the No. 1 seed. Playoffs begin on April 19 following the Play-In Tournament on April...

Jamal Murray's lingering hamstring injury is worse than initially feared, with his availability for the start of the playoffs uncertain according to Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. The Nuggets have ruled Murray out for five consecutive games, leading to a four-game losing streak. Malone emphasized that Murray is hurt, not simply being cautious, and expressed hope for his return before the postseason. Murray's health is crucial to Denver's championship hopes, as shown by his...

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored just three points in a loss to the Houston Rockets, his lowest total in a game where he played over 30 minutes, due to the suffocating defense led by Amen Thompson. Rockets coach Ime Udoka credited Thompson for shutting down Curry, who had been on a scoring streak, while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler highlighted the physical play against Curry as a key factor in his struggles. Despite Curry's...

In his return to TD Garden, Marcus Smart of the Washington Wizards got into a heated altercation with a Celtics fan who he felt had crossed the line. Smart had to be held back by teammates after trying to approach the fan, who was eventually escorted out of the arena. Despite the incident, Smart expressed appreciation for the majority of fans who showed love and brought back memories of his time with the Celtics. Full...

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an exceptional scoring season in the NBA, with a notable ability to get to the free-throw line where he boasts a 90% shooting percentage. Despite his high free-throw attempts per game, he surprisingly did not attempt any free throws in a recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the first time in over three years. This anomaly follows a game where he only had one free-throw...