MVP battle turns white hot in the NBA

The race for the NBA MVP award has taken another turn: Nikola Jokić has overtaken Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had held the top spot for weeks and remains a favorite to win the award for the first time in his career.

Should the Serbian center claim the honor, it would mark his fourth MVP title—a staggering achievement that places him among legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Bill Russell (5), Michael Jordan (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4), and LeBron James (4). Last season, Shai finished second on 640 points, ahead of Luka Doncic (566 points), who is out of contention this year due to ongoing injury problems.

Who is in front for the MVP?

Shai is the frontrunner, and for good reason. He’s delivering an extraordinary season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to dominate the Western Conference with a commanding nine-and-a-half-game lead over Jokic’s Denver Nuggets. The Thunder are also competing with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the league - Cleveland currently has just 10 losses, one fewer than OKC.

Shai is averaging 32.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, making his MVP candidacy indisputable. His only real challenge? Jokic, who is averaging 29.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists. Jokić is coming off a phenomenal February as the Nuggets rebound from a slow start to the season, averaging 27.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 11.6 assists during the month.

Friday night once again showcased why both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are strong contenders for the MVP award - and why it would be fair for either to win. More importantly, it highlighted how the Thunder and the Nuggets currently stand as the two best teams in the Western Conference, with the playoffs fast approaching. Meanwhile, the newly reshaped Lakers, led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic, could disrupt the top three, potentially bumping the Memphis Grizzlies down the standings.

No stopping the Thunder

In Atlanta, the Thunder dominated the Hawks (135-119), who seem destined for the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Shai led the charge with 31 points and five assists, silencing (albeit weak) debates about how much of his scoring relies on drawing fouls—he attempted just four free throws, all in the final quarter. His steady play ensured there were no surprises, stabilizing a team that had recently blown a lead against the Timberwolves and needed a comeback against the Nets after a rocky start.

The Thunder’s lineup saw Cason Wallace return as a starter, Isaiah Hartenstein move to a sixth-man role, and Chet Holmgren start at center. The new configuration clicked immediately, opening with a blistering 40-23 first quarter. However, Holmgren twisted his ankle early, managing to play only the first half, while Isaiah Joe also exited the game with back issues after hitting four three-pointers in just 12 minutes. Despite a few surges from the Hawks, including a second-quarter 14-0 run that cut a 19-point lead down to five, and a fourth-quarter rally that reduced an ostensibly game-clinching 27-0 Thunder run, Gilgeous-Alexander ensured victory.

The Thunder rarely lose when shooting 51% from the field and draining 23 three-pointers at a 46% clip. However, they’ll need to address their occasional offensive lulls, like the one that nearly cost them the second quarter, as these could be costly in the playoffs. The severity of Holmgren’s ankle injury also looms large, as the young star was finding his rhythm after missing three months. With the top seed in the West nearly locked up, the Thunder’s focus will shift to fine-tuning their lineup—deciding whether Holmgren and Hartenstein should start together or if the latter should come off the bench.

Denver deliver in Detroit

Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic delivered another masterpiece in Detroit, where the Nuggets handed the Pistons their first loss in nine games with a 135-119 victory. Jokić, needing just 12 shots to make his mark, finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, posting a remarkable +33 in 34 minutes. Only Oscar Robertson has more career games with at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists, and Jokić has racked up a record 13 games with 20+15+15 in the last 60 years.

The Nuggets’ offense was unstoppable, with Michael Porter Jr. (28 points, 9 rebounds) and Jamal Murray (31 points, 4 assists) combining for an 11-of-16 performance from three. Christian Braun added 23 points, while the defense smothered Cade Cunningham, holding him to 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Though the Pistons trailed by just five at halftime (68-63), a decisive 27-9 Nuggets run in the third quarter sealed their fate.

Now at 39-21, the Nuggets are entrenched as the second seed in the West, with Memphis (38-21), the Lakers (37-21), and the Rockets (37-22) all hot on their heels. The battle for seeding—and the crucial home-court advantage—promises to go down to the wire.

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