The Thunder and Nuggets will meet in a key showdown in both the West standings and the Kia MVP chase.
There are moments in the 82-game grind that beg for attention, carry a little extra weight and magnification, that drip with drama and meaning and can contribute to something more important by season’s end.
Therefore, we present the following:
Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ABC).
Nuggets at Thunder, Monday (8 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
This is where the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder makes a 48-hour pitstop and gives us the matchup we deserve. Well, sure, the Nuggets have a tiny chance to cut into OKC’s comfortable lead in the West, but that’s not the topic, because the Thunder could lose a game a week between now and season’s end and still win the West.
Instead, it’s Nikola Jokić. It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s the two-man arm-wrestle for the biggest individual award in the regular season, in a race that seems exclusive only to them, if not coin-flippy right now.
For the record, Gilgeous-Alexander is No. 1 on the MVP ladder this week, thanks in part to his fourth 50-point game over a 19-game span — and really, his entire season. But suppose the Nuggets go 2-0 against the Thunder in this back-to-back set of games and Jokić is massive in victory? What then?
Or if Gilgeous-Alexander puts distance between him and Jokić with yet another brilliant performance — he’s had a few this season — and helps OKC place another layer of padding on the lead in the West, it’s over, right?
Can a historic season from Nikola Jokić derail Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s march toward MVP?
Both will explain how these two games are all about the team, and they just want to win, blah, blah. To an extent, all that’s true. But give them a dose of truth serum and they’d also recognize the elephant in the room and concede that something else is at stake.
So, we move.
Setting the stage this week: You already know.
The stat to know: Gilgeous-Alexander is doing it at both ends, leading the league in scoring and at the same time only Dyson Daniels of the Hawks has more total steals.
What they are saying: “I was just going to let those three officials know that I’m not gonna allow that to happen tonight, where they’re just going to grab, hold, impede Nikola Jokić. That’s not the game plan moving forward to stop us or Nikola.” — Nuggets coach Michael Malone after getting a technical foul 49 seconds into Denver’s game with the Pistons.
1.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 32.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists
His case: The most methodical scorer in the game is a threat to score 50 points on any given night. He had no 50-pieces before this season, now he has four.
What’s impressive is how Shai is dangerous anywhere on the floor. He’s not a volume 3-point shooter but can’t be left open. He gets to the rim, and the free throw line, and of course is elite at mid-range. Defense is solid, too. He’s a complete player.
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 28.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.4 assists
His case: He’s averaging a triple double, his efficiency (57% overall, 43 from deep) is off the charts for a volume shooter, he’ll finish top-five in assists, rebounds and steals (for those who say his defense is an abomination). His season is historic.
Opposing defenses realize how much he means to the Nuggets and so they’re triple-teaming him, forcing him to surrender the ball and demanding his teammates win games. How many players are getting that level of respect? Just one. See above.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 30.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists
His case: In almost any other season Giannis would be a strong favorite for MVP or at least in the top-two. Keep in mind he is second only to the Joker in double-doubles and arguably nobody else in the league is more valuable for his team, once you consider Giannis’ impact at both ends.
He’s the league’s second-leading scorer and should finish top-five in rebounding by season’s end. Of all the MVP candidates, he’s the best defender.
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists
His case: Tatum averaged 28 points on 47% shooting in February and strengthened his top-five case for this award. He was massive in a pair of wins over the Knicks: 40 points one game, a near triple-double the other. And he had 46 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists and three blocks in a loss to the Cavs.
With the Celtics unlikely to catch Cleveland for the first seed in the East, it’ll be interesting how much Tatum plays in the season’s final few weeks.
5. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Season stats: 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists
His case: He made news this week by breaking the 50,000-points plateau, but his uptick this season shouldn’t be ignored. And put aside the he’s-doing-this-at-40 statements — what LeBron is doing now would be applauded at any age.
At any rate, The Lakers are in the thick of the pack below OKC in the West largely because LeBron has looked sharp — three double-doubles in his last five games and a show of strength during the transition from Anthony Davis to Luka Dončić.
The Next 5
6. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
9. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
10. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
And five more (listed alphabetically): Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings; Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks; Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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