Jokic Delivers a Dominant Comeback, Tops SGA in Thrilling Showdown

The top two MVP contenders, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, met twice within a span of three days. The first clash ended in favor of the Canadian guard, but the Serbian center ultimately had the last word.

Jokic spearheaded the Denver Nuggets to a 140-127 victory over Oklahoma City on the road, showcasing yet another outstanding performance.

With nearly 40 minutes on the court, Jokic took 20 field attempts and successfully converted 15 of them, wrapping up the game with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and just two assists away from another remarkable triple-double.

Despite dealing with an elbow issue post the initial game, the Serbian center opted to take the court.

“I approached him after yesterday’s game and suggested he should rest for tomorrow’s matchup. He responded, ‘Absolutely not, come on coach, I’m playing. Am I fatigued? Of course, everyone is. Am I sore? Everybody’s sore. But I want to play,’” noted Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.

This victory allowed Denver to level the season series against the Western Conference leaders at 2-2, while also restricting SGA to 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Isaiah Joe stood out for OKC, contributing 20 points and seven rebounds.