Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets wasn’t just a statement by the Thunder — it was a revealing moment for two of the league’s biggest stars. In a surprising twist, a massive gap appeared between the plus-minus numbers of two MVP finalists, and it added another layer of intrigue to an already compelling playoff series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City’s franchise centerpiece and MVP finalist, put together a masterpiece on both ends of the floor. From dazzling shot-making to controlling the tempo, SGA looked every bit the superstar the Thunder have bet their future on. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets’ perennial MVP candidate and two-time winner, had one of his rougher nights by his lofty standards. And when the final buzzer sounded, the box score told a stark story: Gilgeous-Alexander was a massive positive, while Jokić ended up deep in the negative in plus-minus.
To be clear, plus-minus isn’t everything. It’s a noisy stat, heavily influenced by context: who’s on the floor with you, what the game situation is, and whether the bench units help or hurt your cause. Still, when you see a gap this large between two of the NBA’s top three players in a playoff game, it makes you stop and think.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a +28 in just over 32 minutes of action — a number that reflects not just his scoring (he poured in over 30 points), but also his calm, measured impact on every possession. When he was on the floor, OKC didn’t just survive — they dominated. His composure under pressure allowed the Thunder to build momentum early and never look back.
Jokić, meanwhile, posted a shocking -25, one of the worst marks of his playoff career. Even though he still managed to rack up stats (points, rebounds, assists — the usual Jokić line), the Nuggets simply couldn’t keep pace when he was in the game. Whether it was OKC’s aggressive traps, their length on the perimeter, or Jokić’s teammates struggling to hit shots, it added up to a disastrous night.
The visual difference between the two MVP candidates was as clear as the numbers suggest. Shai controlled every moment with poise, while Jokić looked frustrated and, at times, sluggish. Every Thunder stop seemed to sap a little more energy from Denver, while every Shai bucket fueled the roaring OKC crowd.
Of course, it would be foolish to draw sweeping conclusions from one game. Jokić has proven time and time again that he can bounce back from adversity — and quickly. Plus-minus fluctuates wildly from game to game, especially in the chaos of the playoffs. But still, for one night, it was impossible to ignore how wide the gap looked between these two MVP finalists when it mattered most.
The series now heads to Denver, where Jokić and the Nuggets will have a chance to respond. But after Game 2’s blowout and the glaring plus-minus difference, the pressure is suddenly very real.
One thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on both stars the next time they take the floor.
