On Monday night, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic dominated the Phoenix Suns while leading the Denver Nuggets into a victory over the Western Conference Semifinal series.
Jokic’s MVP performance, which included 39 points, 16 boards, five assists, and two steals, was a fitting way to celebrate the announcement of the MVP. Denver now leads the series 2-0.
This MVP race could be one the most closely contested between the leading candidates Jokic and the Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid, as well as the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antietokounmpo.
“I don’t really think about it,” Jokic said of the MVP race. “Like zero interest.”
Jokic had to be more aggressive with Jamal Murray shooting just 3-15 from the floor and 0-9 from 3-point range. The usually pass-first center took 30 shots, which was the most he’s attempted in both the regular season and playoffs. There was a particularly important stretch of aggressive scoring where he scored 18 points in the third quarter, outpacing Devin Booker scoring 14 of his 35 points.
“I mean, 39 and 16, five dimes, while everybody else is struggling,” Murray said of Jokic. “Man, no hesitation from him. Just dominating down low and from 3, both ways. Staying aggressive all game, uplifting us during timeouts, just full belief in us the whole time while he’s taking over and picking up everybody’s slack.
“I mean, tonight was a perfect example of a two-time, potentially three-time MVP.”
Jokic responded with a floater each time the Suns reduced the Nuggets’ lead to just one point during the fourth quarter. With 3:25 remaining, he converted another floater to give Denver an 86-81 advantage. The Suns were never able to bounce back.
Jokic would be the fourth person to win the MVP award three times in a row, after Larry Bird, Bill Russell , and Bill Chamberlain .
“I mean, I cannot think about that, my friend,” Jokic said when asked what it would mean to him if he were to join such an exclusive group. “Because I cannot control it.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated that Jokic is focused on winning an even bigger prize, but he still continues to be impressed by what the superstar achieves on the court to lead the team.
“I marvel at his greatness,” Malone said. “I marvel at his consistency, his excellence, his ability to find so many different ways to beat you, whether it’s scoring, rebounding, playmaking, not afraid of the moment.
“There’s so many quality [MVP] candidates, and it’ll be a really close race. But I know what motivates Nikola Jokic, what motivates myself and the rest of the guys in that locker room, is not the MVP. It’s our journey to try and win the first championship in franchise history.”
The Nuggets will now look to take care of business when the Western Conference Semifinals head to Phoenix for Game 3. If Jokic can lead them to at least one road win, they could establish a 3-1 series lead.
More must-reads: