OKC Thunder Focused on Nuggets Matchup, Not MVP Race

Sunday's game inside the Paycom Center will have a big game feeling. It is hard to think of many more important regular season games to take place in Oklahoma City. There have certainly been a few, but this clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets is right up there.

Not only is this a battle between the Western Conference's No. 1 and No. 3 squads, not only is franchise icon Russell Westbrook returning to Bricktown, not only is this getting the NBA on ABC treatment in a marquee noon slot but it is a battle between superstars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

This two stars are going blow-for-blow in the NBA MVP race which is shaping up to be one of the most competitive affairs in years. Jokic seeks his fourth MVP and Gilgeous-Alexander is in search of his first.

After Jokic's historic 30-20-20 game, the first in NBA history, the MVP tide has turned with plenty (right or wrong) hanging in the balance of this regular season back-to-back set inside the Paycom Center.

While Nationally the conversation around this game will have more to do with these two individuals than the final score, internally the Thunder are not viewing it that way.

“[The MVP Race] might be from the outside but it’s Thunder-Nuggets from the inside, at least from our standpoint,” Head coach Mark Daigneault said after practice Saturday.

This falls in line with the Thunder's 0-0 mentality that Daigneault has instilled in this squad since taking over as Oklahoma City's head coach in 2020-21, but one that rings true. Oklahoma City turns in a 52-11 record on the back of making that philosophy more than just lip service and treating each game with the same importance.

Defensive ace Alex Caruso took his turn to face the media after practice where he too was peppered with questions about the ever-important MVP race. The Texas A&M product doesn't agree with the sentiment that this game should bare out a winner for the award.

“You gotta carry the same weight Game 60 that you do Game 1, Game 5. Those are just as important to me," Caruso said after practice.

When the veteran was asked how he thinks his superstar teammate is viewing this tilt, he was open about what he has seen from Gilgeous-Alexander.

“I think if you ask Shai…obviously he wants to play well. Star players, superstars get up for those things. But he’s said this before, too:. He wants to win. Regardless of how he plays, if we don’t win, I don’t think it’ll mean as much," Caruso added.

Winning is the most important thing for the Thunder and regardless of the flashy numbers from either MVP candidate, that is Oklahoma City's main goal.