{"id":1543622,"date":"2022-12-25T08:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-25T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1543622"},"modified":"2023-02-22T12:58:09","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T17:58:09","slug":"jayson-tatum-or-giannis-antetokounmpo-whos-the-better-mvp-candidate-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/jayson-tatum-or-giannis-antetokounmpo-whos-the-better-mvp-candidate-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Jayson Tatum or Giannis Antetokounmpo: Who's the Better MVP Candidate Right Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the first time since their epic series in the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Boston Celtics<\/a> and Milwaukee Bucks square off on Christmas Day. Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> lead their respective teams into the third of five holiday matchups on Sunday.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bucks and Celtics carry the NBA's two best records into their first meeting of the season. If it's anything like last season's playoffs, it should be one heck of a Christmas present to NBA Fans. Tatum<\/a> and Antetokounmpo are both in the thick of the early MVP race, but who has the upper hand right now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo headline Christmas Day action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Jayson
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics celebrates a basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter in Game 6 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals at Fiserv Forum on May 13, 2022, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Stacy Revere\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At 5 p.m. Eastern on Christmas, Tatum and Antetokounmpo will face each other for the first time since the Celtics outlasted the Bucks in a thrilling seven-game playoff series. It was a series that homecourt advantage meant very little, and you could expect the unexpected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bucks had a golden opportunity to close out the series at home in Game 6, but Tatum played the best game of Boston's grueling postseason run. The Celtics star went for 46 points<\/a> to lead the visiting Celtics to a 108-95 victory and force a Game 7 back in Boston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tatum was spectacular from start to finish. He had struggled throughout the series. In his three previous games, Tatum shot 5-for-27 from three-point land. In the pivotal Game 6, he went 7-for-15 from beyond the arc and 17-for 32 in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antetokounmpo was steady throughout the series. With Khris Middleton out, the Greek Freak was forced to do more than normal. The Celtics\/Bucks game is the centerpiece of the Christmas matchups this year. The list of holiday games are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers \u2013 12 p.m. ET (ABC\/ESPN)<\/strong>
Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers \u2013 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC\/ESPN)<\/strong>
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks \u2013 5 p.m. ET (ABC\/ESPN)<\/strong>
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 8 p.m. ET (ABC\/ESPN)<\/strong>
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns \u2013 10:30 p.m. ET (ABC\/ESPN)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Tatum or Antetokounmpo the better MVP candidate right now?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Joker continues to rise \ud83d\udc40

Check out the latest @Kia<\/a> MVP Ladder: https:\/\/t.co\/MjFikuPFc7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8UhjZiE0U6<\/a><\/p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>