The incumbent MVP, Nikola Jokic, is back in Denver and he is looking like a lean mean fighting machine.

Nikola Joki receives a standing ovation from the Nuggets crowd as his night ends in his return from injury 31 PTS 12 REB 5 AST

Nikola Joki and Jamal Murray run the two-man game resulting in Joki's putback for 2 points in his return from injury

Nikola Joki gets animated while addressing his teammates at halftimesince that moment the Nuggets have outscored the Lakers

Denver bleeds the clock with an OReb and Jokic extends the lead to 5

Nikola Jokic grabs the rebound and fires the outlet to Jamal Murray who drives and gets it off the glass and in

Jamal Murray drops 5 quick points as Nikola Joki cheers him on from the bench