After a rough, one-sided loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Nuggets coach Michael Malone threw a curveball at Nikola Jokic. Malone suggested the star center sit out Monday’s rematch to rest his sore left ankle and bruised right elbow—injuries that clearly hurt his shooting (10-of-23 overall and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc).

In response, Jokic didn’t hesitate. He said, “Hell, no!”

Instead of taking a break, he hit the court Monday night and put on a show. Jokic erupted for 35 points, collected 18 rebounds, and dished out eight assists, propelling Denver to a 140-127 victory over the Thunder. This performance wasn’t just impressive—it was a blockbuster comeback, reminiscent of a superhero defying the odds. With determination fueling every move, Jokic silenced any doubts about his toughness.

That’s not all he did. He even put his head coach Malone’s job at risk. After the dominant victory over the Thunder, Coach Malone shared a revealing moment that showcased how much authority the three-time MVP holds within the team.

“Tonight, it was awesome. I walked into a huddle, and he’s got the board out, talking to some of our guys about our zone defense. Hey, let’s do this,” Malone said. “And when you get that from Nikola, now you’re getting everything—the leadership, the voice, the ownership of the team.”

It’s one thing to be the team’s best player, but when Jokic starts leading huddles and making tactical adjustments, it raises an interesting question: How much control does he have over this team?

As the MVP conversation heats up again, Jokic’s ability to dominate in every aspect of the game—offense, defense, and even strategy—only strengthens his case as the best player in the world. Despite his all-around brilliance, the 7x All-Star remains indifferent to the MVP race, making it clear he won’t be caught up in the debate. When asked about competing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the award, the reigning Finals MVP kept it candid.

“This is my third or fourth year in a row so… I’m really… I can’t control it,” Jokić admitted. “I will say I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life, so if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy deserves it. He’s really amazing.” He sure is playing the best basketball of his life. The guy’s a monster. No way of looking around it.

The Serbian is putting up video-game numbers this season, averaging 28.9 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game while shooting an insane 57.7% from the field, 43.0% from three, and 80.9% from the line.

Pretty sure most people won’t emulate this even on the NBA 2k25 game!

Just a few days ago, he made NBA history with the league’s first-ever 30/20/20 performance—a stat line that doesn’t even seem real. Now, in what might be the Nuggets’ biggest game of the year, he’s once again rewriting the record books, but he remains humble and disconnected from recognition, as always.

But this time, he wasn’t doing it alone.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray took over the game

The Thunder came into Monday riding a seven-game win streak, but the Nuggets had other plans. Just a day after getting blown out by Oklahoma City, Denver flipped the script with a 140-127 win, tying the season series at two games apiece. This continues to become an ongoing battle between the two MVP candidates. We hope they meet in the playoffs, too.

A nine-point deficit in the third quarter could have spelled trouble, but the Nuggets came roaring back.

Nikola Jokic was the steady force behind it all, just shy of another triple-double. He dominated the game by shooting 75%, improving massively from the torrid 43.5% last time they met.

Oklahoma City struggled to keep up, especially after losing Jalen Williams to a right hip strain in the second quarter. On the other hand, SGA, the man competing with Jokic for the MVP, had 25, a low-scoring game for his standards. Chet Holmgren also had a rough night, which propelled Denver to a sensational victory.

Denver’s statement win not only snapped the Thunder’s hot streak but also reinforced why they remain a top contender in the West. Jokic continues to prove he’s in a league of his own. It’s an incredible level of performance from a center who wants to win everything and go pet his horses.

Simple player with a simple life but an ambitious goal: To win at all costs! All hail Nikola!