Nikola Jokic delivered a stunning performance, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 140-127 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. The game took place at the Ball Arena in Denver, where Jokic filled the stat sheet with 35 points, 18 rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and a block. This impressive display helped the Nuggets outshine Oklahoma City's star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed 25 points and seven assists.
Denver's defensive strategy played a crucial role in limiting Gilgeous-Alexander to just 14 field goal attempts. The Thunder's efforts were further hampered by the absence of All-Star forward Jalen Williams, who was sidelined due to a hip injury strain. This allowed Denver to simplify their defensive looks and focus on shutting down Gilgeous-Alexander.
Despite battling injuries himself, Jokic showed no intention of sitting out the game. He played 40 minutes, even with a sore left ankle and a right elbow contusion. Coach Michael Malone attempted to persuade Jokic to rest, but the reigning MVP runner-up had other plans.
"Hell no," said Jokic when asked if he would consider sitting out due to his injuries.
Jokic's determination was evident as he made all eight of his field goal attempts in the second half, showcasing his resilience despite significant soreness in his shooting elbow. His performance once again highlighted why he is considered one of the league's elite.
The Nuggets' victory was significant, marking another high point in their season as they aim to maintain their top seed status in the Western Conference. Last season, Denver was the West's top seed, and Jokic finished as the MVP runner-up to Philadelphia's Joel Embiid. His current season is shaping up to be even more impressive, as he is averaging career highs of 28.9 points, 10.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He ranks among the league's top three in points, assists, and steals per game and boasts an average of 13.0 rebounds per game.
Coach Michael Malone has been vocal about Jokic's MVP credentials, emphasizing his unique contributions to the game.
"My thing is this: If you didn't know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put player A and player B on paper and you had no idea that the guy who was averaging a triple-double, the guy who's top three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one's ever done, he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10," Malone stated candidly.
Malone also commended Gilgeous-Alexander's abilities while underscoring Jokic's historical impact on basketball.
"Shai is not a good player, a great player… When you look at it from a historical perspective, he's doing things that no one's ever done," Malone remarked.
Despite his impressive stats, Jokic has never lobbied for MVP votes in the past and maintains that he has no plans to do so this season. His focus remains on playing basketball at the highest level for his team.
"Because if I don't play then I'm going to work out with Felipe [Eichenberger, Denver's strength and conditioning coach]," Jokic quipped, indicating his preference for being on the court over resting.
Oklahoma City remains with an 11-game cushion in the standings despite the loss. However, Denver's commanding performance serves as a reminder of their prowess and determination as they push towards the postseason.
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