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Back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has been ruled questionable by the Phoenix Suns for Thursday night’s marquee matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Jokic has been playing through with right calf tightness.
“The Joker” missed the Nuggets’ last three previous games before returning to the lineup against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. He struggled against a team with one of the worst defenses in the entire NBA.
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Jokic tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks in 25 minutes. On a few occasions, he was even outplayed by Alperen Sengun, the young but talented Houston Rockets center.
Nikola Jokic’s poor showing made a few analysts question if the Denver Nuggets rushed his return. He clearly played several notches below his MVP self. The calf injury could also be more serious than many expected it to be.
Denver needed the five-time All-Star’s presence against the Rockets as they wanted to hold on to the top seed in the Western Conference. The Memphis Grizzlies were breathing down their necks heading into the matchup against the Rockets.
The Nuggets have now claimed the best record in the Western Conference after the second-placed Grizzlies lost to the New Orleans Pelicans. Denver may want to keep the Serbian basketball superstar sidelined until the postseason starts.
Joel Embiid has become the odds-on favorite to win the NBA MVP award over Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo
Joel Embiid’s 52-point explosion against the Boston Celtics and Nikola Jokic’s subpar performance versus the Houston Rockets had a huge impact in Las Vegas. Bookmakers have given Embiid odds of -1,000 to -1,400 to win this year’s NBA MVP award.
Jokic has dropped to +700 to +1200 while Antetokounmpo has improved a little with +600 to +1200 as MVP contenders.
Before Embiid and Jokic’s last respective performances, they were virtually tied for the most coveted individual regular-season award.
If the Denver Nuggets shut him down in their three remaining games, Joel Embiid could finally get over the hump and win his first MVP. “The Process” has placed second to Nikola Jokic in each of the last two years.
The Nuggets have won the Western Conference after the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies blew their game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Denver can now afford to give the reigning MVP more time to rest before the playoffs start.
The Denver Nuggets have clinched the top seed in the West for the first time in franchise history. It would be very unfortunate for them to play in the postseason with an injured or compromised Jokic.
You may also want to read: 3 ways in which Nikola Jokic has changed the center position for the future generation of NBA players
