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Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is a three-time NBA MVP.
The Denver Nuggets outlasted the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, with Nikola Jokic hitting the go-ahead bucket in their two-point win. Jokic dropped another triple-double, but he also talked about Collin Gillespie‘s breakout season for the Suns.
Jokic had a monster night in Phoenix, finishing with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists on 9-for-16 shooting in Denver’s 125-123 victory. He hit the game-winning shot with 12 seconds remaining, while Devin Booker missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer.
Both teams came back from double-digit leads in what felt like a playoff-type game. Jamal Murray scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, with six Nuggets players scoring at least 13 points. The Suns also had six players in double figures.
Jokic Sounds Off on Gillespie’s Season
Speaking to reporters after the game, Jokic was asked about Gillespie’s breakout campaign for the Suns. The former Nuggets guard is averaging 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season.
“To be honest, he played really good for us too, you know? So I think whenever he played, he didn’t play much, but whenever he played, he played good for us. So his shot capability, and he’s a kind of tough player. He’s a winner. I think it’s good to see him impacting the game.”
Gillespie spent the first two seasons of his career in Denver, though he missed his entire rookie year due to injury. Nevertheless, he took home a championship ring in 2023 without making his NBA debut.
After the 2023-24 season, Gillespie signed a two-way contract with the Suns. He earned another one-year deal this past summer and was given plenty of minutes due to Jalen Green‘s injuries in the first half of the season.
Jokic Slips Out of Top 3 in MVP Rankings
In NBA.com’s latest MVP power rankings, Jokic is no longer in the Top 3 after the Nuggets’ recent slump. The three-time MVP was in a head-to-head battle with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander early in the season, but a knee injury sidelined him for a month.
The injury stopped his momentum, and he was turning the ball over too often in the past few weeks. He even had a 10-turnover game last week in a rough loss to the lowly Memphis Grizzlies.
GettyNikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a foul during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
SGA remains at the top, with Luka Doncic emerging from fourth to second after helping the Los Angeles Lakers reach the Top 3 in the West. Victor Wembanyama is at third, with the San Antonio Spurs firmly in second in the standings.
Gillespie Likely to Get Most Improved Player Votes
The race for the Most Improved Player Award this season comes down to Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks. Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers is also a top candidate, but he’s in danger of becoming ineligible due to missed games.
Gillespie is not a favorite to win, according to the latest odds, but he’s likely getting votes for the award at the end of the season. He went from being a fringe backup point guard to a solid starter.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He’s currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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