After playing two consecutive games against Oklahoma City, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic had high praise for the Thunder.

Many billed these back-to-back matchups between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets as big decisive factors into who takes the definitive lead in this year's NBA MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

Telling reporters afterward that he's "playing the best basketball of my life," Denver star Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, as his Nuggets defeated the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 140-127 on Monday night.

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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.

Like last season, the MVP race is down to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. A back-to-back between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets could settle the score. Gilgeous-Alexander is up 1-0 in that regard,