DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks take on the Philadelphia 76ers at noon Sunday on WFAA! Not sure how to watch? Here's a breakdown on how to tune in -- and guarantee you get the clearest signal possible of the broadcast.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is having arguably his best season as a pro. Statistically, that's no question: Heading into Sunday's noon matchup against the 76ers on WFAA, Doncic is averaging 34.5 points per game, 9.7 assists and 8.9 rebounds.
He's been a triple-double machine, even as the Mavericks have tried to find their footing and mesh after a spate of early-season injuries.
So is Doncic a frontrunner for MVP? Not quite, at least not yet.
The Mavericks' 34-26 record and eighth-place standing in the Western Conference have seemingly held back Doncic from being a favorite for the NBA's top individual honor. But he's still within striking distance, according to the latest odds and rankings.
Doncic will get another chance to showcase his game on a national stage when the Mavericks host the 76ers. In the meantime, here's where he stands in the latest odds and predictions:
NBA.com's "Kia MVP Ladder"
Doncic ranked 5th in the latest Kia MVP Ladder rankings, which are compiled by NBA.com. That's behind Celtics star Jaysom Tatum at No. 4, the Bucks' former two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo at No. 3, Oklahoma City's breakout star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 2 and reigning NBA champ Nikola Jokic at No. 1.
What separates Doncic from those top 4? The Mavs' record, apparently.
"We understand he’s scored 25-plus in nine straight games," Michael C. Wright wrote. "But flashy highlights and massive numbers aside, Doncic needs to lift Dallas out of Play-In Tournament territory to climb near the top of this list."
Vegas odds
The betting odds range from sportsbook to sportsbook, but as Sport Betting Dime has compiled, it seems to be a three-player race: Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.
As of this week, the best odds for each player are -135 for Jokic, +230 for Gilgeous-Alexander and +650 for Doncic.
Where has Luka finished in voting before?
Doncic has seemingly gotten better each season with the Mavericks, and he's routinely been in the mix for MVP. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2018-19, Doncic has finished 4th, 6th, 5th and 8th in the MVP voting. He's also been named a first-team All-NBA each of the last four seasons.
Watch the Mavs on WFAA
Below is the full list of Mavericks games airing on WFWAA throughout the end of the 2023-2024 season, including a March 17 matchup against Doncic's fellow MVP contender Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
- Sun., Mar. 3 vs Philadelphia 76ers, 12 p.m. CT (NBA on ABC)
- Mon., Mar. 11 @ Chicago Bulls, 7 p.m. CT
- Wed., Mar. 13 vs Golden State Warriors, 7:30 p.m. CT
- Sun., Mar. 17 vs Denver Nuggets, 2:30 p.m. CT (NBA on ABC)
- Thurs., Mar. 21, vs Utah Jazz, 7:30 p.m. CT
- Fri., Mar. 29 @ Sacramento Kings, 9 p.m. CT
- Thurs., Apr. 4 vs Atlanta Hawks, 6:30 p.m. CT
- Fri., Apr. 5 vs. Golden State Warriors, 7:30 p.m. CT
- Tue., Apr. 9 @ Charlotte Hornets, 6 p.m. CT
- Wed., Apr. 10 @ Miami Heat, 6:30 p.m. CT
- Fri. Apr. 12 vs Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. CT
