What a game I would say and coupled with the OKC Thunder’s two classic wins over the Denver Nuggets for my nominations for best game of the regular season so far. All three of these games involving Denver have been by far the best pure basketball entertainment of the season.
This game had everything. The Spurs led most of the way and Denver had to hang on several times just to stay in the game to give itself a chance at the end.
These two title contenders behind the defending champ Thunder give us all hope the upcoming NBA Playoffs are going to be special. We’ll still get the Thunder at Denver and then the Nuggets at San Antonio coming down the stretch as all three teams are now down to four games remaining.
The stats were amazing in this game. Jokic’s numbers went 40 pts, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, +12. Wemby’s numbers were 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, +4.
My MVP vote still goes this way though…1 Shai, 2 virtual tie between Jokic and Wemby with four games left, 4 Cade Cunningham, 5 Jalen Brown, and 6 Jalen Brunson.
Despite what Stan van Gundy opines on Prime Network…I do not have Luka Doncic in my Top 6 of MVP vote getters. He’s a one way player. He loafs on defense on a team which is terrible defensively. LeBron is too old to change this fact. Luka’s a pylon defensive liability when you get down to playing against the best ten teams or so left standing in the playoffs. Well coached teams will isolate either on Luka or Austin Reaves. If I prove to be wrong on this I’ll admit as much.
Ask Sam Presti what it takes to win an NBA championship. A great defense and a player like Shai leading by example every day.
One thing which really stood out for me in this game was Denver’s supporting cast made some clutch plays to help Jokic down the stretch. Aaron Gordon actually defended Wemby just like the Thunder’s stronger players will need to do if these two teams meet. Plus, Aaron made a couple of big shots.
Christian Braun made five threes and looked like the CB from late last season. Tim Hardaway Jr. continued to be a big game dependable scorer. Cam Johnson for the first time I’ve witnssed this season made some clutch threes from that baseline spot of his to warrant him being on the floor. That’s the Cam Johnson coach David Adelman needs to fill the scoring void of the departed Michael Porter, Jr.
But what really stood out beyond Jokic’s excellence in overtime was the fact the Nuggets won this game on a day when Jamal Murry had a subpar performance. It was clearly an MVP performance by Jokic as his Nuggets are now tied for 3rd in the West with the Lakers.
Tell me who the one NBA fan in the world is that doesn’t want to see the Denver-San Antonio showdown in the Western Conference semis to earn the right to play OKC in the Western Conference Finals.
This is what I love the about the NBA this time of the season.
Have a great spring afternoon in Oklahoma.
Mike J