NBA Mid-Season Heat Check 🔥

01/12/2023 NBA Mid-Season Heat Check 🔥

By: Jeff Yoder

Checking In With NBA Standings, Stats & Awards Leaders at the Halfway Point

The NBA season is officially half gone with every team surpassing the 41-game mark in an 82-game season. And with that, we’re starting to tab all-stars, award-winners, and more as we unpack the conference races that are unfolding. The East features five giants vying for supremacy while the West is a little more top-heavy. We have our eyes on five MVP candidates at the halfway point, but anything can happen down the stretch. Here’s where they stand, as well as awards leaders nearing the all-star break.

 

NBA Standings

 

Eastern Conference

1. Celtics (30-12)

2. Nets (27-13)

3. Bucks (27-14)

4. 76ers (25-15)

5. Cavaliers (26-16)

6. Knicks (23-19)

7. Pacers (23-19)

8. Heat (22-20)

9. Hawks (19-22)

10. Bulls (19-23)

 

Other: Raptors (18-23), Wizards (18-24), Magic (16-26), Pistons (12-33), Hornets (11-31)

 

Western Conference

1. Grizzlies (28-13)

2. Nuggets (28-13)

3. Pelicans (25-17)

4. Mavericks (23-19)

5. Kings (22-18)

6. Clippers (22-21)

7. Suns (21-21)

8. Warriors (20-21)

9. Jazz (21-23)

10. Timberwolves (20-22)

 

Other: Blazers (19-21), Lakers (19-22), Thunder (18-23), Spurs (13-29), Rockets (10-31)

 

NBA Mid-Season Awards

 

MVP Ladder

L. Doncic (DAL): 34.2 PPG, 8.9 REB, 8.7 AST (50.1% FG)

N. Jokic (DEN): 25.0 PPG, 10.8 REB, 9.7 AST (61.6% FG)

G. Antetokounmpo (MIL): 31.7 PPG, 11.8 REB, 5.2 AST (52.7% FG)

J. Tatum (BOS): 30.8 PPG, 8.1 REB, 4.2 AST (47.2% FG)

K. Durant (BKN): 29.7 PPG, 6.7 REB, 5.3 AST (55.9% FG)

 

Defensive Player of the Year: Brook Lopez (MIL)

Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero (ORL)

6th Man of the Year: Jordan Poole (GSW)

Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen (UTA)

Coach of the Year: Jacque Vaughn (BKN)

 

Additional Storylines & Highlights

NBA: LeBron James, Kevin Durant Lead in 1st Fan Returns of All-Star Voting

NBA: Jaylen Brown (41) Outduels CJ McCollum (38) as Celtics Top Pelicans

HoH: Kyle Kuzma Hits Game-Winning 3 to Lift Wizards Over Bulls (100-97)

 

Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images