Just when Nuggets fans thought things couldn’t get any more dramatic, the NBA scriptwriters tossed in a fresh twist ahead of Game 6. The Denver Nuggets are officially on elimination watch, the Thunder smell blood, and Nikola Jokic? Well, he’s averaging 30 and dragging the team like he’s Frodo carrying the One Ring—but instead of Samwise, he’s got an injured MPJ and a Jamal Murray smoothie situation.

Let’s break this chaos down. So first, the official Nuggets injury report heading into Game 6: OUT: Hunter Tyson (Right Ankle Sprain), DaRon Holmes II (Right Achilles Tendon Repair)

That’s it. That’s the whole report. Fans saw that and immediately went, “Where’s MPJ?” Because let’s be real: Michael Porter Jr. is not okay. In his last two games, he’s posted back-to-back One For Sevens (which sounds like a depressing fast food order). Worse, he’s 0-for-5 from deep in both games, which is… mathematically impressive in the worst possible way. His shoulder is so sprained, he might as well be shooting with a spaghetti noodle taped to his arm.

Here’s the silver lining: Nikola Jokic is BACK. Like, full-on MVP-mode, drop-44-on-your-head, shoot-68%-from-the-field BACK. After a couple of clunky performances where he looked more like a sad dad trying to fix the garage door at 2 a.m., Jokic reminded the world why he has three MVPs stuffed in his laundry basket. In Game 5, he dropped 44 points, 15 rebounds,  5 assists,  17-for-25 shooting, 5-for-7 from three.

Basically, Jokic turned into Larry Bird with a Balkan accent. And it’s not just Game 5. Over the last five games, Jokic is averaging 30 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while also doing literally everything else: setting screens, playing defense, solving climate change (probably), and fixing MPJ’s confidence with dad-like encouragement.

Jamal Murray’s Vibes: Unmatched

Let’s give Jamal Murray his flowers too. He had 28 points in Game 5, which was his best outing in the series… even if it came with more bricks than a Minecraft castle. He went 10-for-27 from the field and 3-for-13 from deep, but hey, at least the confidence was firing on all cylinders.

After the loss, Jamal chugged his blueberry-colored smoothie like it was Space Jam’s Secret Stuff and said, “We’re going to go play the game in Denver, and then we get to come back.” Game 7 is coming. Get the popcorn.

Here’s where the Nuggets need a hard reset. Denver is shooting a combined 12-of-44 from the field and 2-of-24 from three in the last two fourth quarters.

That’s not basketball. That’s performance art. And it’s not Jokic’s fault—he’s hit 4-of-6 shots in the fourth. The rest of the team? 1-for-15. That’s not just cold—that’s Elsa, Sub-Zero, and a Siberian winter rolled into one.

Interim head coach David Adelman even said, “If it is fatigue, that’s on me.” Which is a noble thing to admit, but also… yeah, it’s probably fatigue. Denver’s starting five has played 951 minutes in the series. That’s 138 more minutes than OKC’s starters, aka the human energy drink crew.

Let’s give props to the Thunder. They’re the NBA’s youngest team and look like a bunch of college kids on a Red Bull bender. They’ve had nine players play at least 10 minutes in Game 5. Meanwhile, Denver’s rotation is tighter than Jokic’s postgame braids.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out here casually dropping 31 points with zen-like poise, while Lu Dort is hitting fourth-quarter threes like a man who just discovered the corner cheat code. OKC’s composure has been impressive. They’ve come back from late deficits in Games 4 and 5, and they aren’t scared of anyone, not even the Jokic boogeyman under their playoff bed.

Game 6 is Thursday night at Ball Arena. If the Nuggets win, they’ll get two full days of rest before Game 7. That’s practically a vacation for this overworked starting five. Analyst Vic Lombardi put it best: “Win Game 6 — and I believe the Nuggets will — they get TWO days before Game 7. Two. Whole. Days.”

Those two days might be the difference between Jokic dragging this team to another Western Conference Finals… or crashing out while Porter Jr. shoots another 1-for-7 in slow motion. The Nuggets are in desperation mode—and you can’t fake desperation. You also can’t fake a functioning shoulder, but that’s a different conversation.

Nikola Jokic has done everything but drive the team bus and sell hot dogs at halftime. If the Nuggets pull out Game 6, it’ll be because the Joker goes nuclear again, Murray hits the microwave button at the right time, and maybe—just maybe—MPJ remembers how to shoot like it’s February again.

For now, Denver fans will be holding their breath, chugging smoothies with Jamal, and waiting for that magical Game 6 moment.