Nikola Jokic is on one more unprecedented run.
The Denver Nuggets middle is constant to be his world-dominating self, as proven in his current play in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers on Monday night time.
The Blazers have been no match for Jokic and the Nuggets. The Joker put up 40 factors, seven rebounds and eight assists on 15-of-22 capturing as Denver trounced Portland, 146-117.
Whereas these are gaudy numbers for any participant, it did not even look that onerous for Jokic on Tuesday, as he was casually sinking circus pictures with ease.
On the season, Jokic is averaging 29.8 factors, 12.5 rebounds and 10.3 assists per sport — all of that are profession highs for the massive man. He is additionally capturing 45.6% from behind the arc on 5 makes an attempt per sport.
These statistics are not like something the league has ever seen earlier than. He is out-rebounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and out-shooting Stephen Curry.
These aren’t simply empty stats nevertheless, as Denver sits because the No. 3 seed within the West and is on a league-best seven-game profitable streak.
After final postseason’s beautiful Sport 7 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nuggets have been projected to take a step again this yr. They misplaced key starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the one notable pickup they made within the offseason was Russell Westbrook coming off the worst season of his profession. It took a short while to mesh, however after surviving a mediocre 11-10 file, the Nuggets have gone 24-9 and Jokic appears poised to be hoisting a fourth MVP trophy by season’s finish. The one factor in his manner is a 6-foot-6 guard out of Canada who’s main one of the best crew within the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder (43-9) to one of the best file within the NBA and has been the front-runner for the MVP award because the opening night time tipoff. He has persistently been ranked within the prime spot of the league’s MVP ladder, arguably for good cause.
He is averaging a league-high 32.6 factors per sport, and he has three 50-point video games in as many weeks.
Gilgeous-Alexander is dominating, but it surely’s exhausting to argue in opposition to what Jokic is doing. SGA is taking part in with a greater roster and has an All-Star teammate, Jalen Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander can also be capturing at a worse effectivity than Jokic and is behind the Nuggets star in superior stats akin to field plus-minus (14.5 to 12).
It is a tight race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, however because the NBA heads into the All-Star break, there may be nonetheless loads of time to vary the narrative and see who’s voted MVP at season’s finish.
