“This is my third or fourth year in a row, so I’m really — I don’t know. I cannot control it,” Jokić said. “Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy deserves it. He’s really amazing.” Nuggets coach Michael Malone was happy to step up and make the case for his guy.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Maybe Nikola Jokic insisted on playing because the immediate challenge represented a greater good. The Nuggets were 3-12 against other teams seeded in the top four of either ...