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Nikola Jokic might not have won his third consecutive NBA MVP, but he’s still leading the Denver Nuggets when it matters the most, and that’s even better.
The two-time MVP has been an absolute machine during the past five games, scoring at least 20 points in every single game and logging five consecutive double-doubles, including a couple of triple-doubles.
Jokic last 5 games:
39 PTS | 16 REB | 5 AST
24 PTS | 19 REB | 5 AST
28 PTS | 17 REB | 12 AST
43 PTS | 11 REB | 6 AST
20 PTS | 11 REB | 12 ASTPredict his numbers tonight. pic.twitter.com/gfc6t7KJkl
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 5, 2023
More importantly, the Nuggets have only lost one game in the playoffs thus far.
They’re up 2-0 against the undermanned Phoenix Suns.
Monty Williams’ team won’t have Chris Paul for perhaps the remainder of this series, paving the way for the Nuggets to reach the Western Conference Finals again this season.
Jokic already has a strong enough argument to be considered the greatest player in Nuggets history, even ahead of the likes of Alex English and Carmelo Anthony.
But as great as he’s been since taking over, some still give him a hard time for his lack of playoff success, not taking into account how much heavy lifting he’s had to do with his supporting cast often hurt or lacking.
Still, there won’t be room for error or excuses this time around.
Mike Malone’s team is at full strength, and Jokic has never had such a good supporting cast in his career.
So, the Nuggets need to take care of business and finish the job in their two-game trip to the Valley of the Sun, even though sweeping Kevin Durant and Devin Booker will be way easier said than done.
