The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to clash with the Denver Nuggets this Friday, marking only their second meeting this season. Fans are eagerly anticipating this matchup, and for good reason. Despite both teams grappling with a slew of injuries, they still find themselves in the conversation for title contention.
All eyes will be on whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes his return. The reigning MVP has been sidelined for nine games due to an abdominal strain and is up for re-evaluation today. If he steps onto the court, his showdown with Nikola Jokic is sure to grab the headlines.
But there's another intriguing subplot to this game. Nikola Jokic will face off against a familiar face in Nikola Topic. The two shared the court as teammates for Team Serbia last summer, and this will be their first NBA encounter.
Jokic had high praise for Topic, saying, "I played with him, of course. We played a little bit before on the national team.
Really talented. He's the future of Serbian basketball.
He's fighting something that is probably more important - most important - and he won it."
Topic, who is just beginning his NBA journey, is slowly adapting to the league's pace. Drafted 12th overall in 2024, he missed last season recovering from a torn ACL and spent the first four months of this season battling testicular cancer.
His NBA debut has been one of the season's feel-good stories, and Jokic's positive words highlight the respect he's earned. Even in his first five games, Topic has shown glimpses of his playmaking abilities and scoring potential.
As both teams prepare for Friday's showdown, the storylines are rich and the stakes are high. Whether it's the potential return of Gilgeous-Alexander or the emerging talent of Topic, there's plenty to watch for in this exciting matchup.