Michael Porter and Nikola Jokic are two of the best players in the NBA. They have also developed a close friendship, with one time MVP candidate Michael being mentored by Denver Nuggets big man Nikola since his early days in Europe. The two square off on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden when Milwaukee Bucks host Denver Nuggets for their preseason game. Here’s what we can expect from them during this matchup:
The future is bright!
Nikola Jokic is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets. He just sent an MVP message to Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Nikola Jokic, the great center for the Denver Nuggets and the reigning NBA MVP, had already joined Wilt Chamberlain in an exclusive club earlier this season. He did it again against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, delivering a loud and unmistakable warning to Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Throughout the 2021-22 season, Jokic’s skill was on display for everyone to witness. He’s led the Nuggets to this point despite a weak roster. Despite The Joker’s brilliance, Embiid and Antetokounmpo continue to be mentioned often in MVP debates.
With little over a month to go, the Serbian big man proved that he is the frontrunner for the prize. Will he be able to fend off media narratives while continuing to lead the Nuggets to victory?
On Sunday, Nikola Jokic created history with a 40-point triple-double.
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Jokic scored 16 points in the opening three quarters of Sunday’s game against the Pelicans. He concluded the night with 46 points, one of his best of the season.
With a tremendous triple-double (46 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists) that featured three steals and four blocks, the greatest second-round choice in NBA history virtually single-handedly propelled the Nuggets to victory in the fourth quarter and overtime. He accomplished it in an exceedingly efficient manner.
Jokic shot 16-of-22 from the field. According to StatMuse, he joined Chamberlian as the only two players in NBA history to record a 45-point triple-double on at least 70% shooting. The Joker also became the first player with a 40-point triple-double and four blocks since LeBron James achieved the feat in 2010, per ESPN.
The way in which Jokic earned his baskets down the stretch was all the more astonishing, despite the excellent stats. Jokic made himself at home in the paint, slipping screens for easy mid-range shots. The degree of difficulty, as well as the clutch factor, rose as the game progressed.
With just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Denver was behind by six points when Jokic produced a steal and scored on a contested layup in transition. With about a minute remaining, the Nuggets were down four points when the four-time All-Star spun for a massive block on the weak side. Following a pair of crucial free throws, a dunk, and several Pels misses, Jokic went to the free throw line in the dying seconds and sank two more to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Jokic cranked it up a notch. On one instance, he effectively played hot potato with Nuggets point guard Monte Morris on a post entry before darting to the three-point line for a late-clock triple that eventually served as a dagger.
The whole excellence shined through, and the team victory was unquestionably the most crucial. Jokic, on the other hand, made an NBA MVP statement just when the race seemed to be tightening.
Once again, Jokic is the NBA MVP front-runner.
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Nikola Jokic deserved to be a front-runner for NBA MVP even before his stunning performance yesterday. However, such a dominating performance propels him to a new level.
Jokic is averaging 25.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists on 65.5 percent true shooting, the greatest figure among all players averaging at least 1.0 three-point attempt. Those figures are impressive enough. The advanced metrics, on the other hand, are even better.
Giannis Antetokounmpo lost his lead in player efficiency rating (PER) to the Nuggets’ star. His current PER of 32.3 is the greatest in NBA history. Jokic’s box plus-minus rating of 13.89 is also the best in league history. He has the highest victory share (11.7) and value above replacement player in the league (7.6).
Even still, none of those figures really reflect Jokic’s genuine influence. The on-off splits, on the other hand, do.
With Joker on the floor, Denver outscores opponents by a stunning 9.2 points per 100 possessions. When he sits, though, the Nuggets are outscored by 7.2 points per 100 possessions. That’s a mind-boggling +16.4 margin.
In this area, Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid both have large differentials. Giannis has a season on-off rating of +11.2, while Embiid has a season on-off rating of +11.5. However, Jokic’s stats pale in compared to those of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., who have anchored Denver without them.
In relation to that…
Are the Nuggets a dark-horse candidate for a Finals berth?
On February 27, 2022, Nikola Jokic reacts during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers | Getty Images/Abbie Parr
Nikola Jokic has been scratching and clawing to keep the Nuggets competitive for months. There’s reason to think Denver is now one of the Western Conference’s most dangerous teams.
The Nuggets are the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, one game behind the No. 5 Dallas Mavericks and 2.5 games behind the No. 4 Utah Jazz. Eight of their past nine games have ended in victories. More crucially, at the conclusion of the season, they might get a significant boost from their returning players.
According to recent sources, Murray and MPJ might return to the court before the playoffs. While it’s unrealistic to expect either to be entirely healthy, their presence alone might relieve some of the strain on Jokic and help the Nuggets become a more well-rounded team.
Keep in mind that the Broncos have won a postseason series in each of the last two seasons. It has the necessary experience to go all the way. With Jokic back to his MVP form and Murray and MPJ maybe on the verge of returning, the Nuggets have a chance to shock the Western Conference.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats are courtesy of Basketball Reference.
In the midst of a competitive NBA MVP race, Jamal Murray slams Nikola Jokic haters.
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