Over the years, a close bond has been built between Coach Michael Malone (left) and star Nikola Jokic.
Decisions await the Denver Nuggets as the regular season winds down and we head into next week’s State Farm NBA Play-In Tournament.
Nikola Jokic is eager to play, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone leans towards a more cautious strategy.
“Nikola and I have been together for six years,” Malone explained Tuesday after Denver’s 117-112 win against Charlotte that clinched the Nuggets home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. “We have a tremendous relationship: coach-player, friend, whatever you want to call it. So, we’ve been having an ongoing discussion about potentially reducing minutes, potentially sitting out games.
“We’ll definitely keep reviewing this issue. I have immense respect for Nikola’s dedication to playing every game. However, we need to exercise caution, not just for Nikola’s sake, but also for the welfare of our team. We’ve already faced numerous injuries. The last thing we need is for our indisputable MVP to get injured before the postseason.”
On Thursday, Nikola Jokic made a significant impact against the Timberwolves, scoring 31 points and securing 14 rebounds, leading to a victory.
Monte Morris missed 12 games due to a right hamstring injury, while Will Barton (right hamstring), and P.J. Dozier (right adductor) continue to nurse nagging injuries in the wake of the Nuggets losing Jamal Murray for the season with a torn left ACL.
Jokic hasn’t missed a game all season. He played 32 minutes Thursday in Denver’s 114-103 win over Minnesota, cobbling together 31 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Nuggets past the Timberwolves. So, sitting out tonight’s game at Detroit (8 ET, NBA League Pass) and the season-finale Sunday at Portland (9 ET, NBA League Pass) shouldn’t adversely affect the center’s chances of becoming the first Denver Nugget to win the Kia MVP award.
However, this doesn’t lessen Jokic’s determination to continue playing basketball.
Jokic expressed his desire to participate in every game provided his health permits. He shared that many people are discussing this with him and he is considering it. His ultimate aim and wish is to play in every match.
Having racked up a 30-point double-double Tuesday at Charlotte, Jokic maintains his tight grip on the No. 1 spot atop the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder with slim prospects of another competitor in the field overtaking him this weekend (when the regular season comes to a close).
Jokic stated, “I can confidently say that this is likely the best season I’ve ever had. Our team has been performing well throughout the season. We’ve had our highs and lows, but overall, we’re on the right path. Whatever happens, happens.”
And now, the Top 5 this week in the 2020-21 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder:
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 26.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 8.4 apg, 1.3 spg
Nikola Jokic delivers a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds against the Hornets.
Interestingly, the Nuggets are the only team to have clinched home-court advantage for the playoffs in the past three seasons, a feat largely attributable to Jokic’s performance. Since Murray’s season-ending knee injury in April, the Nuggets, led by Jokic, have a 12-5 record. If Jokic gets one more triple-double in the remaining two games of the season, he will match Fat Lever’s franchise record for most triple-doubles in a single season (16). Jokic already holds the league record for the most games (88) with 10 or more assists by a center.
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 28.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Joel Embiid has confidence in the Sixers’ composition and ability to pursue the championship.
Absolutely dominant when healthy, Embiid might’ve owned a realistic shot at overtaking Jokic if not for all the games he’s missed. Embiid had missed 20 games going into Thursday’s loss at Miami, putting him in peril of falling below the 70% threshold of games played to qualify for a spot in the NBA’s statistical rankings. Embiid continues to play with confidence, and he’s made it clear he believes the 76ers possess the necessary ingredients to seriously compete for a championship. “We’ve got everything we need to make that run,” Embiid said. We’ll soon see once the postseason gets underway on May 22.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 28.4 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 5.9 apg
Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the Pacers in the Bucks’ victory on Thursday night.
The reigning two-time Kia MVP, Antetokounmpo put together his 20th game this season with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists — which ranks second in the NBA — in a 114-102 win on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic. Antetokounmpo and Jokic are the only players this season averaging at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. That puts Antetokounmpo on track to register his third straight season with such numbers — a feat only accomplished by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. Antetokounmpo dropped 40 points and 15 rebounds in Thursday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.
4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Season stats: 28.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 8.6 apg
As the playoffs approach, the Mavericks are feeling more cohesive than ever, heavily relying on Kia MVP contender Luka Doncic.
Dropped 33 points in a win over New Orleans on Wednesday that ended the Pelicans’ shot at reaching the State Farm Play-In Tournament. The Mavericks have won eight of their last 10 games with Kristaps Porzingis missing seven of the last eight, and that’s largely due to Doncic, who currently ranks No. 3 in the league in 25-point games this season (45). Doncic leads the NBA in 30-point, five-rebound, five-assist games this season (22), and he’s put together the most 30-5-5 performances over the past two seasons. The Mavericks are 12-3 this season when Doncic scores 30 points to go with at least eight rebounds and eight assists.
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Last week’s ranking: No. 7
Season stats: 31.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.2 spg
Fasten your seatbelt and observe Stephen Curry’s supreme performance.
Wouldn’t it be fascinating to witness a match between Curry and LeBron James in the State Farm Play-In Tournament? As of Friday, Curry is just 31 points shy of scoring 2,000 points this season, a milestone he’s only achieved once before in his career. If he accomplishes this, he’ll join the ranks of Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry and Chris Mullin as the only Warriors to have multiple 2,000-point seasons. Additionally, Curry has made over 300 3-pointers in a season for the fourth time in his career. Only he and James Harden have managed to hit 300 or more 3-pointers in a single season.
Got thoughts on the Kia MVP chase? Hit me up via e-mail or send me a tweet!
The Next Five:
6. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
7. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
8. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
9. Julius Randle, New York Knicks
10. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
And five more: Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers; Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards; James Harden, Brooklyn Nets; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks; Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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