The race for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award is awfully close. Let's break down the case for each candidate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points and blew out the Nuggets in Sunday's game. Jokic got his lick back Monday with a near 35-point triple-double and double-digit win over the

Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—faced off in back-to-back games between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday and Monday. Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander got to directly go up against each other,

Jokić was, however, willing to engage in a moment of self-reflection about where he finds himself as he nears the end of his 10th NBA season — which, in his view, is a peak higher than any he’s reached before.