DENVER — If Denver climate cooperates, Nikola Jokic stated he will likely be soaking in a pool when the 2022-23 MVP is introduced Tuesday.
The reigning back-to-back MVP earned his day within the solar after dominating the Phoenix Suns and carrying the Denver Nuggets to a 97-87 victory in Sport 2 of their Western Convention semifinal sequence at Ball Area on Monday night time.
Maybe it’s becoming on the eve of the MVP announcement that Jokic delivered an MVP efficiency with 39 factors, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals to provide Denver a 2-0 sequence lead.
With voters having forged their ballots on the finish of the common season, this MVP contest may very well be one of the crucial tightly contested races between main candidates Jokic, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In his typical understated style, Jokic reiterated that he would not care who wins the NBA’s most coveted particular person award.
“I do not actually give it some thought,” Jokic stated. “Like zero curiosity.”
Jokic’s full focus is on the Suns. With Denver’s Jamal Murray struggling by a 3-for-15 taking pictures night time, together with going 0-for-9 from behind the arc, Jokic put apart his pass-first mentality and was rather more aggressive on the lookout for his shot. He took 30 photographs — probably the most he has taken all common season and postseason — and displayed his contact. He hit two 3s, sank floaters and scored on an array of strikes within the publish.
Jokic scored 18 of his factors and hit 7 of 11 photographs within the third quarter, when Phoenix’s Devin Booker scored 14 of his 35 factors.
When Murray was requested what Jokic confirmed with this outburst the night time earlier than the MVP winner is introduced, the taking pictures guard pointed each of his palms on the stat sheet in entrance of him with an incredulous look on his face.
“I imply, 39 and 16, 5 dimes, whereas everyone else is struggling,” stated Murray, who had six factors and 4 assists within the fourth quarter. “Man, no hesitation from him. Simply dominating down low and from 3, each methods. Staying aggressive all sport, uplifting us throughout timeouts, simply full perception in us the entire time whereas he is taking up and selecting up everyone’s slack.
“I imply, tonight was an ideal instance of a two-time, probably three-time MVP.”
When the Suns lower the Nuggets’ lead down to 1 level twice halfway by the fourth, Jokic answered every time with a floater. He buried one other floater with 3:25 left to provide Denver an 86-81 lead. The Suns by no means recovered.
If Jokic wins a 3rd straight MVP award, he would turn into simply the fourth man to take action, becoming a member of Larry Hen, Wilt Chamberlain and Invoice Russell.
“I imply, I can’t take into consideration that, my pal,” Jokic stated when requested what it will imply to him if he had been to affix such an unique group. “As a result of I can’t management it.”
Denver coach Michael Malone stated Jokic and the Nuggets are targeted on profitable an even bigger prize.
“I marvel at his greatness,” Malone stated. “I marvel at his consistency, his excellence, his potential to search out so many various methods to beat you, whether or not it is scoring, rebounding, playmaking, not afraid of the second.
“There’s so many high quality [MVP] candidates, and it will be a very shut race. However I do know what motivates Nikola Jokic, what motivates myself and the remainder of the fellows in that locker room, isn’t the MVP. It is our journey to attempt to win the primary championship in franchise historical past.”
Malone stated if Jokic doesn’t repeat as MVP, he’ll hug his star heart and “inform him he is the MVP in my eyes.”
All Jokic stated he was trying ahead to doing Tuesday was stress-free.
“Hopefully, it is going to be a sunny day,” Jokic stated, “so I may be within the swimming pool.”