The last two times the Nuggets took on the Thunder in February, they weren't at full strength. This time, as long as Jamal Murray, who's currently questionable, suits up, the Nuggets will have their whole starting roster on the court, thanks to the return of Aaron Gordon. His presence alone could offer the twist the Nuggets need to deliver a different outcome in the rematch.
The Nuggets lost another fourth-quarter lead and another clutch game against the Thunder in the team's last meeting, eventually falling in overtime 127-121. They looked pretty good for most of the game, and even had a 14-point lead in the first half before the second unit gave it away.
But with Gordon back, the defense will have a whole different look and feel than it did without him. Gordon's upper echelon defensive play kept the Nuggets in the top-five in defensive rating with him on the floor, before it plummeted to nearly the bottom without him. They missed his physicality and defensive IQ.
Nikola Jokic will be out for payback via the W column
Nikola Jokic, while super competitive, is a docile, gentile giant who's always friendly and smiling, and he's now told everyone he's a proud Denverite, and that he "couldn't imagine" going somewhere else. He loves horses, and he's a big softie about them.
That's why to see the look the Joker had in his eyes when he chased down Lu Dort after the dirty hip-check he delivered to the Joker, was something you knew had really got under the Joker's skin.
Jokic's been frustrated of late, and it was on display in those eyes, and his "necessary reaction" to the dirty play. For his part, Dort did apologize, but that doesn't mean the Nuggets and Joker are going to lose the chip on their shoulder from the last meeting. It will likely be a physical matchup.
The MVP race is probably already lost
The Nuggets are currently tied with the Lakers at 39-25. However, they find themselves in sixth place in the Western Conference playoff standings, dangerously close to the play-in zone, only two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns.
You can't give an MVP award to someone that low in the standings, and a loss would give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the season win over Jokic head-to-head, too. Plus, another loss would also be the third straight to OKC this year. There's no way the Joker can overcome SGA in that scenario.
There's probably not even a chance the NBA would give Jokic the MVP even if he hits 15 triple-doubles in the Nuggets' final 18 games, unless they win all 15. The Nuggets would still only finish 54-28, and probably behind both the Thunder and the Spurs. Still probably out of reach for the Joker.