Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić Lead Heated NBA MVP Race

The Oklahoma City Thunder star's dominant performance against the Denver Nuggets highlights a closely contested battle for the league's top individual honor.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in the Thunder's 127-103 victory over the Nuggets, solidifying his position as a leading MVP candidate.
Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP, delivered a near triple-double in the loss but faced tough defense and struggled to take over in the fourth quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander currently leads the league in scoring and has propelled the Thunder to a 53-11 record, the second-best in the NBA this season.
Jokić recently made history with the first-ever 30-20-20 game in the NBA, showcasing his unique skill set despite Denver's 12-game deficit to OKC in the standings.
Historical voting trends suggest that voters may favor the 'newcomer' Gilgeous-Alexander over Jokić, who has already won three MVP awards in recent years.

Cleveland Plain Dealer