The NBA MVP race has taken a dramatic turn after the reigning MVP Joel Embiid suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Philadelphia 76ers star was leading the league in scoring and rebounding, and had his team atop the Eastern Conference standings. But his hopes of defending his MVP title were dashed when he tore his left meniscus in a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 30.

Jokic emerges as the frontrunner

With Embiid out of the picture, the MVP race is now wide open for other contenders to make their case. The most likely candidate to take over the top spot is Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets center who has been putting up historic numbers this season. Jokic is averaging 28.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, while shooting 57.8% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range. He is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.

Jokic has also been remarkably durable and consistent, playing in every game so far and recording 38 double-doubles and 12 triple-doubles. He has led the Nuggets to a 34-16 record, good for third place in the Western Conference. He has also shown his clutch ability, hitting several game-winning shots and carrying his team in close games. Jokic has improved his odds to win the MVP award to minus-150, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, making him the clear favorite.

Gilgeous-Alexander makes a surprising leap

Another player who has made a significant jump in the MVP race is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard who has been having a breakout season. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 25.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, while shooting 51.4% from the field and 40.7% from three-point range. He is one of only four players in the league to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, joining Jokic, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.

Gilgeous-Alexander has also been the leader and the catalyst for the Thunder, who have exceeded expectations with a 29-21 record, tied for the best in the Western Conference. He has been especially impressive in the fourth quarter, where he ranks second in the league in scoring and first in field goal percentage. He has also hit several clutch shots and delivered some dazzling performances, such as his career-high 49 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 26. Gilgeous-Alexander has improved his odds to win the MVP award to plus-230, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, making him the second favorite.

Antetokounmpo remains in the hunt

The third player who has a realistic chance of winning the MVP award is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks forward who has won the award in the past two seasons. Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.9 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, while shooting 55.9% from the field and 31.4% from three-point range. He is one of only three players in the league to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, joining Jokic and Embiid.

Antetokounmpo has also been the anchor for the Bucks, who have a 32-18 record, second in the Eastern Conference. He has been dominant on both ends of the floor, ranking in the top 10 in the league in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. He has also recorded 32 double-doubles and four triple-doubles, and has scored at least 30 points in 22 games. Antetokounmpo has improved his odds to win the MVP award to plus-650, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, making him the third favorite.

Other dark horses to watch

The MVP race is not limited to these three players, as there are some other dark horses who could make a late push. Some of them are:

• Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks guard who has been filling in admirably for the injured Julius Randle. Brunson is averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, while shooting 50.8% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. He has led the Knicks to a 31-19 record, fourth in the Eastern Conference.
• Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers forward who has been having another stellar season. Leonard is averaging 25.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 51.2% from the field and 40.6% from three-point range. He has led the Clippers to a 33-17 record, fourth in the Western Conference.
• Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks guard who has been putting up MVP-like numbers. Doncic is averaging 29.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game, while shooting 47.8% from the field and 35.2% from three-point range. He has led the Mavericks to a 28-22 record, sixth in the Western Conference.
• Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics forward who has been carrying his team. Tatum is averaging 26.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 45.6% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. He has led the Celtics to a 30-20 record, fifth in the Eastern Conference.

The NBA MVP race is still far from over, as there are still 30 games left in the regular season. Any of these players could make a strong case for the award, depending on their performance and their team’s success. The injury to Embiid has opened the door for a new MVP to emerge, and it will be exciting to see who will seize the opportunity.