Nuggets get last laugh in the battle between the MVP candidates
Jokić’s 35-Point Triple-Double and Murray’s 34 Power Nuggets to Bounce-Back Win Over OKC
The Denver Nuggets won the second game of a back-to-back on Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder 140-127 after their 24-point loss Sunday.
In the first battle between the leading MVP candidates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, Gilgeous-Alexander took the first matchup, dropping 40 points. Jokic tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in the loss.
But in the end, the Joker got the last laugh. Jokić recorded his 29th triple-double in their 13-point win Monday. Jokic scored 35 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out 16 assists. In the absence of Aaron Gordon, who went down with a lower-calf injury in the first matchup, Jamal Murray helped out the first unit, scoring 34 points.
“This was a [game] you talk about everybody contributing,” Nuggets head coach Micheal Malone said after the game. “Good team win. We responded well.”
While depth has been a problem all season for the Nuggets, it was not against the Thunder. Missing a top bench contributor in Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson stepped up with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while also knocking down all four of his attempts from beyond the arc. Jalen Pickett has also stepped into a larger role amidst the injuries. While he has had his struggles this season, Pickett, was +9 and contributed eight points.
With the win, Denver jumped back ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 2 seed in the west, while OKC remains comfortably 11 games ahead of Denver. The team also improved to 12-1 in the second game of a back-to-back.
The Nugs return home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday and the Lakers on Friday. Tip-off against Minnesota is set for 8 p.m. MT (ESPN).