The MVP battle has been a heavyweight fight this season, with centers Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic leading the way almost from the start.
And while Embiid has been the betting favorite for several weeks, and remains so with -120 odds on Tipico Sportsbook, Jokic landed the latest blow sure to close the gap.
On Sunday night, Jokic lifted his Denver Nuggets to a win over the New Orleans Pelicans with a stat line never recorded before in NBA history. He had 46 points (16-22 FG), 12 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and four blocks to become the only person to hit each threshold since steals and blocks became official in 1973-74.
Nikola Jokic in Sunday's @nuggets W:
46 points
12 boards
11 assists
3 steals
4 blocksNo one has recorded that stat line since steals and blocks started being tracked 🤯 pic.twitter.com/F46QO1J736
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2022
And if the 46-point triple-double on 70% shooting wasn’t impressive enough, he scored 30 — 30! — of those points in the 4th quarter and overtime alone. Truly amazing stuff from the reigning MVP.
Jokic’s odds this season remain the second-shortest at +210, but after Sunday’s game, his coach and teammates made it clear he’s second to no one.
Aaron Gordon: Nikola Jokic is the MVP. pic.twitter.com/iKgRcF91Zr
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 7, 2022
Bones Hyland just burst into Nikola Jokic's postgame press conference chanting "MVP, MVP!"
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 7, 2022
MANNNN LISTEN!!!!!!! MVPPPP!!!! MVPPPPP!!!! NIKOLA JOKIC IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!!!!
— Bones Hyland (@BizzyBones11) March 7, 2022
"What a luxury it is to have the MVP in an overtime game, knowing you can play through him…
For him to do what he did, just speaks to his greatness."
-Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) March 7, 2022
Hopefully Jokic left something in the tank for Monday. The Nuggets will be playing the second night of a back-to-back to make up for a postponed game against the Golden State Warriors (+8.5).
Embiid also takes the floor Monday night, at home against the Chicago Bulls (+6.5) and their MVP candidate Demar DeRozan (+1200).
