The Denver Nuggets bounced back in a big way on March 10, and Nikola Jokic was the driving force behind it.
Jokic picked up minor elbow and ankle injuries following the Nuggets’ 127-103 loss to the Thunder on Sunday. But less than 24 hours later, the 2023 NBA champion was back on the court, putting on a show Monday night.
Despite coach Michael Malone advising him to sit out and rest, Jokic had other plans. The Joker shrugged off the suggestion and suited up on game day, ready for business.
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Nikola Jokic told Michael Malone he would play through injury
Jokic put on a masterclass in the rematch against Oklahoma City, dropping 35 points, 18 rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and a block to lead the Nuggets to a 140-127 victory.
Before the game, Malone wanted Jokic to rest and recover from a sore left ankle and a right elbow contusion, as both injuries had affected his performance in the previous matchup.
In the post-game interview, Malone revealed that he texted the 30-year-old center, reminding him that he had logged 39, 38, 44, and 41 minutes in the last four games. He suggested taking it easy this time, but Jokic had no interest in sitting out.
“Hell no,” Jokic replied, indicating that he wanted to play. That, in itself, speaks volumes on his mentality.
Malone speculated that Jokic’s determination stemmed from the team’s loss to the Thunder on Sunday.
“I think part of that was also we lost,” Malone said, “and he wanted to lead this team and find a way to come in here and get a win today.”
However, Jokic had a different reason for playing on Monday.
“Because if I don’t play then I’m going to work out with Felipe [Eichenberger, Denver’s strength and conditioning coach],” Jokic said after logging 40 minutes in the victory. “And that’s much harder than playing.”
Jokic outshined his MVP rival, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as the Nuggets executed Malone’s game of keeping the ball away from the Thunders’ leading scorer.
Nikola Jokic believes having the upper hand in the 2025 MVP race
Jokic has always let his game do the talking, especially when it comes to the MVP race. Currently ranked among the league’s top three, he is posting career-high numbers with 28.9 points, 10.5 assists, 13.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander had his moment on Sunday, dropping 40 points to lead the Thunder to a dominant 24-point win over the Nuggets.
Still, Jokic believes he is in the best shape of his career and playing at his highest level. But if that is not enough to secure the MVP, he has no problem passing the torch to SGA this year.
“I will say that I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life, so if that’s enough, that’s enough,” Jokic said. “If not, the guy [Gilgeous-Alexander] deserves it. He’s really amazing.”
Neither player is ready to back down, and both had defining moments in their back-to-back matchups, games that could play a key role in shaping the 2025 MVP race.
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