With five weeks left in the regular season, the MVP race is down to two — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. As old-school as it might be, head-to-head clashes could swing over undecided fans or voters.

One head-to-head result in early March does not, by itself, decide something as massive as which player will wind up winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. It can, however, provide an opportunity to make an emphatic statement.

The battle for the league's top individual honor looks to be a two-man race, and with a month left, the margin is razor thin.