Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are getting used to seeing each other in the rare air of NBA history.

The stars have finished No. 1 and 2 in MVP voting for the past two seasons. Gilgeous-Alexander won in 2024-25 after Jokic earned the third MVP award of his career in 2023-24.

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Last season, they met in a seven-game Western Conference semifinal series that the Thunder won on their way to the franchise’s first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City.

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On Monday night, Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander clashed in a classic battle that ended with SGA knocking in the game-winner and tying an NBA legend’s 63-year-old record.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting and dished out a career-high 15 assists as the Thunder snagged the 129-126 victory. It was SGA’s 126th consecutive game scoring 20 or more points, tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record set from 1961-63.

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Not surprisingly, Jokic is already in that club, too. He broke Chamberlain’s record for most triple-doubles by a center. He also is on pace to become the first center to lead the league in assists since Chamberlain did it in 1967-68.

After the game, Jokic shared his thoughts on his rival’s achievement: “I don’t know that people know how hard it is to do that. To make 20 points in 10 (straight) games, not 120 whatever it is, it’s special. He’s a special player,” per NBA reporter Anthony Slater.

Jokic turned in another triple-double in Monday’s defeat. He scored 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting with 14 rebounds and 13 assists.

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As the season enters the home stretch, the Thunder remain atop the Western Conference standings with a 51-15 record, three games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs. Denver holds the sixth spot at 39-26, 1.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns.

Gilgeous-Alexander will look to break Chamberlain’s record when the Thunder host the Boston Celtics at 9:30 p.m. ET Thursday.

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