To win MVP, you must first overcome Jokic.

Wembanyama vs. Jokic, the clash of the two strongest centers in the league today, did not disappoint.

Even in NBA history, it's hard to find such a center matchup. One is a three-time MVP, the pinnacle of offensive centers, combining inside and outside scoring methods with historically top-tier court vision; the other is advancing toward his first MVP, the pinnacle of defensive centers, destined to dominate the court for decades as the future face of the league.

Wembanyama played 40 minutes, shooting 8/17, 2/6 from three-point range, and 16/17 from free throws, scoring 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 5 blocks with a +4 plus/minus. Jokic played 44 minutes, shooting 13/25, 1/5 from three-point range, and 13/15 from free throws, exploding for 40 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, and 3 blocks.

Both centers displayed unparalleled court influence in the game, scoring consistently inside and causing numerous fouls. Their teammates also hit enough three-pointers today, providing ample support to their leaders. So the game went into overtime, and then we saw Jokic's prowess.

In overtime, Jokic missed a three-pointer, but made all three subsequent shots against Wembanyama. Starting with a mid-range shot over Wembanyama's defense, in the final minute, Jokic first used a Dirk Nowitzki-style fadeaway, a极限后仰中投命中, the ball brushing past Wembanyama's fingertips.

The last shot, also the decisive one, was Jokic's floater against Wembanyama under the basket, the ball once again brushing past Wembanyama's fingertips into the hoop. No matter how high Wembanyama jumps or how long his reach, there is a limit, and Jokic shot precisely at that极限位置, with a perfect parabola, flawless.

Today from the start, most of Jokic's shots against Wembanyama were floaters, constantly adjusting angles and arcs, once blocked by Wembanyama but then grabbing the offensive rebound and scoring again. Throughout the game, Jokic repeatedly calculated Wembanyama's maximum defensive range, finally using a floater to clinch the game.

After the game, Jokic said: "If you remember two years ago, he blocked the same shot from me. Maybe I just created a little more space, who knows." Since turnover statistics began, Jokic became the first center in NBA history to score at least 40 points and 10 assists with 0 turnovers in a single game.

Jokic had "only" 8 rebounds in this game, largely because when Wembanyama was on the court, Jokic rarely challenged him directly under the basket, resulting in fewer offensive rebounds. But Jokic's恐怖之处 lies in his scoring ability from anywhere on the court, allowing him to move Wembanyama to any position.

Wembanyama should feel proud; he at least pushed Jokic to his最强形态. In this game, Jokic was outstanding both进攻 and防守, even with 3 blocks, extremely focused on the court, meticulously crafting each possession, showcasing his best skills.

Similarly, Wembanyama, who played nearly 40 minutes, also revealed his weaknesses. In the final defensive possession, he确实注意力有点不集中. His season average is only 29.4 minutes; this game was his second-highest playing time this season, and his energy明显下滑 by the end.

Another issue is that Wembanyama's进攻能力确实距离真正的MVP还有很长的一段路要走. His defense is already天花板级别, but to become the league's strongest player, offense cannot be ignored.

In this game, he shot 8/17, with 6 field goals under the basket and 2 three-pointers, one of which was a lucky bank shot. All other mid-range and long-range shots were missed. His shooting is still too reliant on临场手感; when his touch is good, no one can stop him, but when it's off, he misses even open shots.

Today Wembanyama indeed had good stats, but most of his points came from free throws and easy baskets under the basket. In the playoffs, Wembanyama will likely play more minutes against stronger防守强度,届时他的进攻手段将面临极大的挑战.

With about 45 seconds left in regulation, Wembanyama found Vassell on a fast break for an alley-oop, putting the Spurs up by 4. Jokic showed no frustration, quickly inbounding the ball and moving to the next进攻, drawing a foul and making both free throws.

In the next defensive possession, after Gordon switched onto Fox, he defended Fox so tightly that Fox couldn't move,最终投出三不沾. On the offensive possession, Jokic found Gordon again to tie the score. In this possession, Wembanyama犯了错误,漏掉了 Gordon.

On the Spurs' final进攻 in regulation, Gordon switched onto Wembanyama and again showed perfect防守, forcing Wembanyama to the corner for a potential game-winning shot that最终打铁. Gordon's defense in the last two possessions of regulation was直接拉满, showcasing the Nuggets'恐怖之处: having Jokic and Murray as ultimate weapons, Gordon as a top-tier third star, and players like Cameron Johnson, Braun, and Watson as perfect complementary pieces.

At any time, in any situation, you cannot overlook a team like the Nuggets. Interestingly, this year's playoffs, the Spurs and Nugks have a high chance of meeting in the second round. Wembanyama vs. Jokic, the对决 continues.