Three-Time MVP Makes History in Overtime Win Against the Suns
As we inch closer to the end of the NBA regular season, for some teams every game is a must-win. Before their matchup last night against the Phoenix Suns, the Denver Nuggets stood at 40-22, third in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers. Denver is just a half-game behind the Lakers for second place. In an epic matchup that eventually went into overtime, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić made NBA history. During a 149-141 win over the Suns, Jokić recorded 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 22 assists, making it the first 30-20-20 in NBA history. The Nuggets face the Thunder in their next two matchups. Some big performances by ‘The Joker’ and two wins against the top-seeded team in the West could certainly make people look at this team differently. Jokić along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could easily be this year’s MVP, two wins against Oklahoma City would increase this team’s positive emotions and championship aspirations.
‘The Joker’ went 13 for 22 from the field. He went three for seven from downtown and made two out of his three free throw attempts. 17 of his 21 rebounds were defensive rebounds. The three-time NBA MVP also collected three steals and turned the ball over four times. Last season, this Nuggets team looked like they could repeat as NBA champions. However, they were upset in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. If the Nuggets take the two seed, and the Timberwolves, currently in the seventh seed, win their game during the Play-In Tournament, we’ll see another first-round rematch. While we are more than a month away from the regular season ending, if the playoffs started today, Denver would be taking on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have won eight of their last nine games, and the addition of Jimmy Butler has kept Golden State’s hopes alive.
It would be very interesting to see if ‘The Joker’ can put on this type of performance again. Jokić has had some epic stat lines within his career and this most recent performance just adds to that resume. Denver has the opportunity to take control of this second half of the season and dominate the forefront of the league. Could the three-time NBA MVP become a four-time MVP this season?
