The Oklahoma City Thunder have exceeded expectations this postseason. Under head coach Mark Daigneault, they swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games to secure a spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Now, a tougher challenge awaits: the Denver Nuggets. Despite showing signs of struggle in the playoffs, Nikola Jokic remains a major threat. A Thunder player recently spoke out about the challenge of facing the reigning MVP.
āJokic is in that tier of players, along with Shai and a handful of other guys in the league, where theyāre just going to kind of get their numbersā¦Iāve talked about this in the past, where if you do a great job on guys of that caliber, theyāll probably get their averages. And if you donāt, they can go for headline stuff. The biggest thing is just making it tough on him. Heās a great player,ā stated Alex Caruso.
Nikola Jokic is averaging a triple-double in the playoffs, with 24 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game across seven appearances. His scoring has dropped compared to other postseasons, but he continues to make a major impact. His creativity on offense and effort on defense have been key reasons why Denver reached the semifinals. This comes in a difficult context, as the team had to adjust to a coaching change just before the start of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the series as clear favorites. Their long-term project is finally showing results, thanks to continuity and strong development. The team no longer depends solely on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, since players like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have stepped up. On top of that, they had nine full days to rest and prepare before the series began, which gave them a clear physical advantage.
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.
Can the Nuggets vs. Thunder playoff series impact the 2025 NBA MVP race?
Considering the timing of the season, this series could shape the race for the 2025 MVP award. If the Nuggets win and Nikola Jokic stands out as their best player, it could tilt the MVP conversation in his favor. That is especially relevant because Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted similar performances in both the regular season and playoffs.
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Nuggetsā MVP candidate Nikola Jokic makes a major statement about Shai Gilgeousā impact ahead of Game 1 vs Thunder
However, if the Oklahoma City Thunder win, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would likely become the clear MVP favorite. As he has been the driving force behind the Thunderās deep playoff run. He has made a difference offensively and scored over 30 points in each of his last two playoff games.
Still, winning this series will not guarantee the MVP. Especially because the NBA Finals are still to come, and they will weigh heavily in the final decision. Even so, this matchup could be the key moment that determines who ends up taking the award.
