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Is Nikola Jokic Playing Tonight Against The Thunder Following His Historic 30-20-20 Game (March 9th)?

Sameen Nawathe
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) prepares to shoot the ball in the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena

Nov 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) prepares to shoot the ball in the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s once firm grip on the MVP trophy seems to be slipping right now. Nikola Jokic has made a furious charge as of late, even dropping a historic 30-20-20 stat line a couple of days ago. With the Nuggets set to travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder, tonight’s outcome could go a long way in the final MVP decision.

With Jokic gunning for an awe-inspiring 4th MVP in 5 years, he will want to display his dominance as much as possible in the last 22 games. The Nuggets have taken back the second seed from the Lakers, but OKC is 11 games ahead and has virtually locked in the 1 seed.

Jokic’s best chance at the award will be to get the Nuggets as close to OKC as possible, and a win tonight would be huge for that. Unfortunately, he’s been tagged as probable for the game, with an inflammation in his left ankle being listed as the reason.

There is good news for Nuggets fans, though. He was listed as questionable in their last two games with the same condition and played through it, even dropping a historic triple-double in their win against the Suns.

With or without him, the Nuggets still have their work cut out for them. OKC is playing some of the best basketball in the league and are very deservingly the best team in the West. Their defense is stifling, their offense is free-flowing, and their dual bigs, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, have provided tremendous value for their roles.

SGA is on another stratosphere as far as players go and is averaging nearly 33 points a game this season. The Nuggets have one chance of winning this game tonight, and that is to implement a formula the Timberwolves used a few weeks ago. To beat the Thunder, the Nuggets need to contain SGA and let the other players try and beat them.

With the Nuggets locked in a battle for the 2 seed with the Lakers, they cannot afford to lose any game, especially with the season nearing its end. Let’s see whether Nikola Jokic suits up, and how the Nuggets fare in OKC.

About the author

Sameen Nawathe

Sameen Nawathe

Sameen Nawathe is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Drawing from his extensive background in editing his university publications, Sameen brings a distinguished level of professionalism and editorial acumen to his position. With over a decade of practical sporting knowledge, he adeptly curates a spectrum of content, ranging from foundational sports highlights to insightful analysis of potential NBA trades. Sameen's passion for basketball ignited with LeBron James, whom he credits for sparking his love for the game. He fondly reminisces about James' 2018 season, which he often describes as "the best display of pure hoops we've ever seen". When he's not immersed in the world of writing or playing basketball, Sameen can be found enjoying Taylor Swift's music or passionately supporting Manchester United during soccer matches.

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