If Nikola Jokić wanted to bolster his MVP case, Monday night’s performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder made a compelling argument.
Despite dealing with elbow and ankle injuries, Jokić delivered a dominant showing, racking up 35 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists, a steal, and a block. His effort propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 140-127 victory in their rematch with the Western Conference-leading Thunder, overshadowing Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 25 points and 7 assists.
Jokić, who is averaging career highs in points (28.9), assists (10.5), and steals (1.8), has consistently been among the league’s statistical leaders. However, he remains uninterested in campaigning for MVP votes. “I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life, so if that’s enough, that’s enough,” Jokić said. “If not, the guy [Gilgeous-Alexander] deserves it. He’s really amazing.”
The rematch came just one night after Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City to a commanding 127-103 win with a 40-point performance. Determined to slow him down, the Nuggets adjusted their defensive approach, frequently trapping him and limiting his shot attempts. As a result, he took just 14 shots and was held to 2 points on 1-of-2 shooting in the fourth quarter.
Denver coach Michael Malone’s defensive strategy paid off, forcing the NBA’s leading scorer to pass rather than attack. Jokić, meanwhile, went 5-of-5 from the floor in the final quarter, helping the Nuggets seal the win.
“He’s definitely a top player in this league,” Jokić said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “His midrange is historical. He’s a great player, so we tried to make him take bad shots or just get rid of the ball.”
With this win, the Nuggets proved they can go toe-to-toe with the conference’s best, keeping the MVP debate—and the race for Western Conference supremacy—wide open.