Getty Luka Doncic left off from NBA MVP Finalists The Los Angeles Lakers opened the 2026 NBA playoffs with a 107-98 Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, but attention quickly shifted off the court one day later when the league announced its finalists for the NBA MVP award. Lakers star Luka Doncic was not among the final three names despite leading the NBA in scoring during the regular season. The league announced the finalists as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,