NBA MVP Race

1

Kevin Durant : Oklahoma City Thunder

LAST WEEK: 25.7 ppg | 5.7 rpg | 4.0 apg

The three-time scoring champ is on a current 10-game tear that has seen him average 28.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and shoot better than 53 percent. The Thunder's record during that 10-game stretch is 9-1, the team rising as Durant's game soars. Tonight's home showdown against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers should prove to be particularly intriguing, with arguably the two greatest scorers in the game going toe-to-toe.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Goes for 32 vs. Nets (Dec. 4)
•  OKC rolls Hornets (Dec. 1)
•  Drops 25 on Jazz (Nov. 30)
• > Durant's stats & bio

2

Carmelo Anthony : New York Knicks

LAST WEEK: 25.7 ppg | 4.7 rpg | 3.0 apg

A finger injury that required stitches cost Anthony a shot to square off against the Heat on TNT Thursday night, but the Knicks handled business without their catalyst -- their second smackdown of the defending champions in the last month. Anthony's last 10 games have been similar to Durant's in scoring (28.8), rebounding (5.9) and in the win column (7-3) as the Knicks have answered any lingering questions about their legitimacy.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Injures finger in win (Dec. 5)
•  Scores 34 vs. Suns (Dec. 2)
•  Scores 20 vs. Wizards (Nov. 30)
• > Anthony's stats & bio

3

LeBron James : Miami Heat

LAST WEEK: 26.0 ppg | 10.7 rpg | 8.7 apg

After back-to-back losses to the Wizards and Knicks, James did some refocusing with a twilight workout Thursday night. He did his part against the Knicks, coming up with yet another near triple-double of 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists just days after being namedSports Illustrated's  Sportsman of the Year. His biggest challenge right now is making sure the Heat's current skid doesn't continue.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Knicks topple Heat (Dec. 6)
•  Triple-double in loss (Dec. 4)
•  In control vs. Nets (Dec. 1)
• > James' stats & bio

4

Zach Randolph : Memphis Grizzlies

LAST WEEK: 21.0 ppg | 14.0 rpg | 1.3 apg

A wicked  38-point, 22-rebound, three-block effort in Tuesday's overtime win over the Suns put Randolph in elite company, with only he and Dwight Howard (45 points and 23 rebounds for the Magic at Golden State on Jan. 12) piling up those kind of numbers in the last 12 seasons in an NBA game. Anyone confused about whether or not Randolph belongs among the league's elite can move on to other concerns now.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Dominates Suns (Dec. 4)
•  Solid in loss to Spurs (Dec. 1)
•  Quiet night vs. Pistons (Nov. 30)
• > Randolph's stats & bio

5

Kobe Bryant : Los Angeles Lakers

LAST WEEK: 29.0 ppg | 5.3 rpg | 4.8 apg

Debate Bryant's place in history all you want now that he has  joined the exclusive 30,000-point club. The Lakers' great has bigger issues to do deal with these days, what with his team twisting and turning in a new direction seemingly every day. Bryant's wearing his "Big Boy pants" while others (Pau Gasol) can't seem to locate theirs. Bryant's scoring ability has never been a question. But his leadership abilities are in the crosshairs until the Lakers get it together.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Makes NBA history in win (Dec. 5)
•  Scores 39 in loss to Houston (Dec. 4)
•  Drops 34 points in loss (Dec. 2)
•  Lakers roll Nuggets (Nov. 30)
• > Bryant's stats & bio

6

Chris Paul : Los Angeles Clippers

LAST WEEK: 14.0 ppg | 9.0 apg | 2.3 spg

The Clippers are back on the rise (four straight wins) and Paul seems to be back in the comfort zone he was in during their six-game win streak during the middle of last month. Paul has had seven straight games with 14 or more points. The Clippers are better when he's being aggressive with his own offense as well as facilitating for others.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Double-double vs. Mavs (Dec. 5)
•  Clutch shot sinks Jazz (Dec. 3)
•  Scores 14 points in rout (Dec. 1)
• > Paul's stats & bio

7

Deron Williams : Brooklyn Nets

LAST WEEK: 18.0 ppg | 3.0 rpg | 8.7 apg

Back-to-back losses to the Heat and Thunder put Williams and the Nets on the contender hot seat. Williams struggled with his shot (3-for-11, 10 points and 12 assists) in the loss to the Heat. He bounced back with 33 points and seven assists in the loss to the Thunder, whose firepower proved too much for the upstarts in Brooklyn.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Scores 33 in loss to OKC (Dec. 4)
•  Heat overpower Nets (Dec. 1)
•  Solid vs. Magic (Nov. 30)
• > Williams' stats & bio

8

Tony Parker : San Antonio Spurs

LAST WEEK: 26.0 ppg | 4.0 rpg | 8.0 apg

Maybe Gregg Popovich was right after all. In the two games since that $250,000 vacation the Spurs coach gave his biggest stars, Parker is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 55 percent. The Spurs knocked off both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Milwaukee Bucks and should be fresh and ready to go against the Rockets Friday night in San Antonio, where Parker will get to match up withJeremy Lin.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Double-double vs. Bucks (Dec. 5)
•  Drops 30 on Grizz (Dec. 1)
• > Parker's stats & bio

9

Jrue Holiday : Philadelphia 76ers

LAST WEEK: 16.3 ppg | 10.3 apg | 1.0 spg

Anyone expecting Holiday's play to fall off as the season wears on should take a closer look at what this young point guard is doing each night. Holiday is working on a current five-game stint where he's averaging 20 points, 10.2 assists and shooting 51 percent. His battle with the Celtics' Rajon RondoFriday night will be critical in a game that pushes the winner ahead of the other in the Atlantic Division standings.

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Quiet vs. Wolves (Dec. 4)
•  Scores 23 in loss (Dec. 1)
•  Double-double vs. 'Cats (Nov. 30)
• > Holiday's stats & bio

10

Stephen Curry : Golden State Warriors

LAST WEEK: 22.3 ppg | 3.0 rpg | 10.7 apg

A healthy Curry goes a long way for a Warriors team trying to rid itself of its recent underachieving past. Curry is doing his part, having finally settled into his dual role as Golden State's top scorer (19.1 points) and playmaker (6.6) on a team in dire need of a floor leader capable of handling those duties. Where he's been better than expected is on the defensive end, where he leads the Warriors in steals (1.8).

IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

•  Double-double vs. Pistons (Dec. 5)
•  Solid in loss to Magic (Dec. 3)
•  All-around play sinks Pacers (Dec. 1)
• > Curry's stats & bio

Current Rankings

Rank	Status	Player
1	--	Kevin Durant
2		Carmelo Anthony
3		LeBron James
4	--	Zach Randolph
5	--	Kobe Bryant
6	--	Chris Paul
7	--	Deron Williams
8	--	Tony Parker
9	--	Jrue Holiday
10	NR	Stephen Curry