While the two candidates for the MVP title this season have not really broken through, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just shown to be better than Nikola Jokic in the match on March 10.

The 2024-25 NBA schedule has accidentally lined up an interesting matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. The two teams will meet twice in back-to-back games, taking place on the mornings of March 10 and March 11 in OKC.

Not only are they two of the three teams leading the NBA’s “fiery West,” they are also the home clubs of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two leading candidates in the race for the MVP title.
Nikola Jokic in a head-to-head situation with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, two candidates for the NBA MVP title this season
In game 1 on March 10, Oklahoma City Thunder were the winners when they suddenly “turned on” in the 4th quarter, completely “putting the Denver Nuggets in the dust” with a score of 127-103.

The gap between the two teams was still 1 point at the beginning of the final period (score 88-89), however Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates opened two long scoring streaks (14-3 and 20-7). 

The final quarter score alone was 41-20, a dominant performance by the Thunder over the Nuggets to win the game in just about 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets were completely “suffocated” in the fourth quarter, scoring only 20 points compared to 41 from the Oklahoma City Thunder and then losing with a score of 127-103.
Highlights of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40-point game against MVP candidate Nikola Jokic

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 40 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks. Meanwhile, his opponent on the other side of the battle line, Nikola Jokic, scored 24 points with 13 rebounds and 9 assists.

Behind Shai was Jalen Williams with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, almost reaching a triple-double. Supporting Jokic was Michael Porter Jr. with 24 PTS, 15 rebounds and 1 block.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander determined to compete for MVP with Nikola Jokic

Scoring 40 points against his rival in the MVP race, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his 11th 40-point game of the season (5th if counting in 2025 alone). 

The excellent game from “SGA” along with the blow-out victory of the Oklahoma City Thunder was a response to Nikola Jokic, the owner of the historic 30-20-20 game just achieved last weekend.

Jokic had 31 points, 22 assists and 21 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns, creating the first 30-20-20 game ever recorded by the NBA. 
Before today’s match against OKC, Nikola Jokic had a historic performance with 31 points, 22 assists and 11 rebounds last weekend.
The record-breaking performance earns the Denver Nuggets star another point in the MVP race. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still making strides of his own. 

In the last three games, the Canadian guard scored 51 points and 7 rebounds (against the Grizzlies), 41 points and 8 assists (against the Blazers) and today 40 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists when facing his rival Jokic.

SGA’s current average score is 32.9 points/game, holding the top position in the NBA and is far ahead of the second place Giannis Antetokounmpo with 30.9 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexnader doesn’t have the same comprehensive stats as Nikola Jokic, but he leads the entire NBA in scoring and is the No. 1 star of the team that tops the Western Conference.
Like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder also maintained their No. 1 position in the NBA Western Conference with a 53-11 overall record, while the Denver Nuggets temporarily fell from second to third with a 41-23 record.

Can Denver get revenge on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the rematch on March 11? And will Nikola Jokic deliver an explosive performance to continue to affirm that he is the No. 1 candidate for the MVP title, not SGA?

The answer will appear in the match taking place at 7:00 am tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11.