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NBA Talking Points: Harden or Giannis for MVP, Embiid or Jokic for All-NBA first team, East playoff race and more

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NBA Talking Points: MVP, Embiid v Jokic

Join the conversation as we present a handful of the biggest current NBA talking points and invite you to have your say.

Two-man race for Most Valuable Player

MVP candidates Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden face off
Image: MVP candidates Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden face off

The two favourites for this season's regular season MVP award collide when James Harden and the Houston Rockets travel to Milwaukee to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Eastern Conference-leading Bucks, live on Sky Sports Arena late on Tuesday night (midnight).

Live NBA: Houston @ Milwaukee

Antetokounmpo's MVP candidacy follows the age-old formula - he's the best player on the NBA's best team (by regular season record). Season averages of 27.4 points (on 58.2 per cent shooting), 12.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks illustrate his dominance on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

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Harden is the NBA's leading scorer (at 36.2 points per game, he is putting up more than eight points a game more than his closest rival Paul George), hits 4.9 three-pointers and a league-best 9.8 free throws per game while also contributing 6.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

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A wayward pass from Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo struck James Harden in the head and floored the Rockets' franchise star

Harden's offensive mastery revived the Rockets' season after they suffered long-term injuries to Chris Paul and Clint Capela. Putting the team's offense squarely on Harden's shoulders was, for the best part of 30 games, the only way Houston could win. And he has delivered the victories that have propelled the Rockets up the West standings.

Either superstar would be a worthy Most Valuable Player. But only one can win. Who's your pick?

Embiid or Jokic for first-team All-NBA?

Joel Embiid scores at the rim against Cleveland
Image: Joel Embiid scores at the rim against Cleveland

The two guard and two forward spots on this season's All-NBA first team appear to be pretty much locked in. A backcourt of James Harden and Stephen Curry seems a likely outcome with MVP contender Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George - who played at MVP level for much of the season until a shoulder injury set him back - destined for the forward berths.

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The center spot is a different story, however. Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are both worthy choices. But they can't both be selected. And it is almost impossible to separate them.

Nikola Jokic celebrates a basket during the Nuggets win in Boston
Image: Nikola Jokic celebrates a basket during the Nuggets win in Boston

Jokic has led the Denver Nuggets to the upper echelons of the Western Conference with his scoring, rebounding and elite-level passing. No big man other than the legendary Wilt Chamberlain has produced more assists over the course of the season.

Embiid has powered the Philadelphia 76ers to similar success in the East. His scoring and rebounding punch is heavier than Jokic's and, while he can't match the Serbian star's passing vision, his defense is vastly superior.

The selection of All-NBA first team center is too close to call. Who would you pick?

Will the surging Magic make the playoffs? And who missed out if they do?

Jonathan Isaac finishes at the rim against Philadelphia 76ers
Image: Jonathan Isaac finishes at the rim against Philadelphia 76ers

Seven days ago the only unresolved postseason issue appeared to be whether the Miami Heat would hold off the Orlando Magic for the eighth and final playoff spot. The situation is now more complex.

The Heat, despite good wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, are now under pressure from the Magic and the Charlotte Hornets, who have conjured respective win streaks of five and three games. The sixth-placed Brooklyn Nets and seventh-placed Detroit Pistons have hit choppy waters of late and relinquished the breathing space they previously enjoyed.

As a result, all five teams are now separated by three games with East's sixth, seventh and eighth playoff within their grasp.

Nikola Vucevic pulls down a rebound against Philadelphia
Image: Nikola Vucevic pulls down a rebound against Philadelphia

Although they lead this particular race, the Nets have the toughest remaining schedule with games against Milwaukee (twice), Toronto, Indiana, Philadelphia, Boston and Portland left on their schedule. Charlotte will play six of their remaining nine games on the road - they have won just 11 of 35 games away from home this season - and have likely left themselves too much to do.

As for in-form Orlando, they have the opportunity to have the biggest say over the final two weeks of the season with games against Miami, Detroit and Charlotte left on their schedule. Will we see the Magic surge into the playoff spots? And which current playoff-seeded team will suffer late-season heartbreak?

Warriors or Nuggets for West's No 1 seed?

Stephen Curry celebrates during Golden State's win over Inidana
Image: Stephen Curry celebrates during Golden State's win over Inidana

NBA history suggests the road to a 'three-peat' - a third successive NBA title - is never smooth. The Chicago Bulls learned this in the 1990s, as did the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and 2000s. This year the Golden State Warriors are learning the same lesson.

When a team's talent is so high that a playoff spot is little more than a foregone conclusion, regular season motivation can be hard to find. Defensive intensity comes and goes. Urgency is something left on hold until the postseason.

All those factors played into the Warriors' shocking 35-point home loss to the Dallas Mavericks. One night later against the Detroit Pistons, the presence of Blake Griffin (an old Warriors foe from his days with the Clippers), was enough to rouse the NBA champions from their slumber. They played with intensity and posted a 121-114 win.

Kevin Durant lays home an easy deuce
Image: Kevin Durant lays home an easy deuce

Those Jekyll-and-Hyde performances have prevented the Warriors from running away with the Western Conference this season. And the Denver Nuggets remain in hot pursuit, just a half game back.

The Nuggets, 30-6 at home but just 19-17 on the road this season, want the No 1 seed - it guarantees homecourt advantage throughout the postseason. The Warriors should want it too, but may not prioritise it over resting their star players ahead of the playoffs.

To make things even more interesting, the Nuggets and Warriors face off in Oakland on April 3.

Time for Dirk to call time?

Dirk Nowitzki celebrates after passing Wil Chamberlain on the NBA all-time scoring list
Image: Dirk Nowitzki celebrates after passing Wil Chamberlain on the NBA all-time scoring list

The NBA has been acting like this season is Nowitzki's farewell tour, cheered at every arena he has visited and invited - along with Dwyane Wade - as an honourary participant in the All-Star Game.

But the Mavericks veteran star has never actually said this season will be his last.

Live NBA: Dallas @ Oklahoma

Nowitzki, a former regular season MVP, an NBA champion and a Finals MVP, is now in his 21st season (all with the Mavericks - an NBA record) and can no longer impact games as he did in his prime. Getting up and down the court consistently is a struggle for the seven-footer these days.

However, as a spot-up shooter, Nowitzki is still a more-than-serviceable NBA contributor and, in rookie sensation Luka Doncic, has a team-mate who can deliver the ball to him when and where he wants it.

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Dirk Nowitzki says Luka Doncic is further ahead in his career than he was at the same age.

Nowitzki, the greatest international player in NBA history, has certainly earned the right to script his own exit. And when he does so, his entrance to the Hall of Fame is guaranteed. Will he call time on his career at the end of the regular season?

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