The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder faced off on Monday night in the second game of a back-to-back series. After Oklahoma City secured a dominant 127-103 victory over Denver on Sunday, the Nuggets responded with a strong performance of their own, defeating the Thunder 140-127.
Leading the charge for Denver was Nikola Jokić, who delivered an outstanding performance with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists. Jamal Murray also played a crucial role in the win, contributing 34 points, four rebounds, and six assists. On the Thunder’s side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the top performer, recording 25 points, three rebounds, and seven assists. Lu Dort added 26 points and seven rebounds despite the loss.
A major storyline from Monday’s matchup was the head-to-head battle between two of the leading candidates for this season’s NBA MVP award: Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander. Both players have been exceptional throughout the season, making the race for the prestigious award highly competitive. Following Denver’s victory, Jokić shared his perspective on the MVP discussion.
“This is my third or fourth year in a row [being considered for MVP], so I really… I can’t control it,” Jokić said. “I will say I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life, so if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy (Gilgeous-Alexander) deserves it. He’s really amazing.”
Jokić, already a three-time NBA MVP, made a compelling case for his candidacy with his comments. His current season has been one of the best of his career, as he is averaging 28.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Additionally, he has maintained impressive shooting efficiency, hitting 57.4% of his field goal attempts and 43.0% from beyond the arc. These numbers represent career highs in multiple statistical categories and put him on track to join Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season.
While Jokić’s performance this year has been historic, Gilgeous-Alexander has also been phenomenal, making him a serious contender for MVP honors. The Thunder guard has consistently led his team to success and remains the current frontrunner for the award. However, with both players performing at an elite level, the battle for the MVP title may not be decided until the final games of the regular season.
Regardless of the outcome, the performances of Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander have elevated the competition, making this one of the most exciting MVP races in recent history. Both players continue to prove their value to their respective teams, and fans can expect the race to remain highly contested until the very end of the season.