The Denver Nuggets are gearing up to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals — a marquee matchup in the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs that carries both championship and MVP implications. The series features a head-to-head clash between the league’s top two MVP candidates: reigning champion Nikola Jokić and Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Ahead of Game 1, Jokić took time to praise Gilgeous-Alexander’s dynamic skill set and growing dominance on the court. Speaking to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Nuggets center highlighted what makes the Thunder guard one of the league’s most difficult players to defend.
“He’s a very different player,” Jokić said. “He’s playing at so many levels — with speed, as a scorer. Everything looks easy for him. Even when you think, ‘Oh, that’s solid defense,’ it still feels effortless. He’s amazing at changing pace, changing rhythm, and his ball-handling is elite. He can post up, blow by defenders, and his midrange jumper is basically unguardable. He’s a very special player.”
What happened in that back-to-back showdown?
The two stars already faced off late in the regular season during a rare back-to-back set at the Paycom Center, where the teams split the games — the Thunder taking the first 127–103 and the Nuggets responding with a 140–127 victory. It served as a fitting preview of their playoff collision and fueled one of the most compelling MVP races in recent memory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder attempts to drive past Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Paycom Center on March 9, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
After the second game, Jokić reflected on the MVP conversation with typical humility. “I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough,” he said. “If not, [Gilgeous-Alexander] deserves it. He’s really amazing.” The mutual respect between both superstars was evident.
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In the rematch, Jokić powered Denver with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists. Gilgeous-Alexander countered with 25 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals — further reinforcing just how evenly matched they are.
Jokić is coming in hot
The Nuggets’ MVP frontrunner enters the semifinals in peak form after leading his team past the Los Angeles Clippers in a grueling seven-game series. Not only did Jokić dominate statistically, but he also made history in the process.
After averaging a triple-double in the regular season — a rare accomplishment only previously done by Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson — Jokić became the first player in NBA history to win a playoff series while carrying that same triple-double average into the postseason, per Reddit/nba’s WinesburgOhio.
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Jokić posted 24.0 points on 50 percent shooting, 11.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the first round. He capped it off with a commanding Game 7 performance, lifting Denver to a 120–101 victory to seal the series 4–3.
