Jokic Smashes NBA Triple-Double Record, Boosts to Third Place
Forget the MVP conversations, Nikola Jokic is now in a league of his own, smashing the NBA's triple-double record book. The Serbian center put together an astonishing 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists on Thursday against the Thunder, making NBA history with his 79th career triple-double, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's sixth-place standing.
Jokic's stellar career now stands at seventh on the league's all-time list, but it's not just about doing numbers for the 27-year-old. "It's nice to be compared to a man who's probably one of the greatest players of all time," Jokic said during a post-game interview. "It's a kind of legacy I'm leaving behind, so it's good."
Despite the fantastic display, the imposing center had a sluggish start, recording a mere two points during the first half. Yet, Jokic's team pushed through the adversity thanks to stand-out performances from Aaron Gordon (27 points) and Jamal Murray (24 points), salvaging the second half and ultimately securing the win against the Thunder.
But the Nuggets' victory wasn't all smooth sailing, as the Thunder mounted a comeback in the third quarter, erasing the Nuggets' lead and dominating play. Not to be outdone, the Nuggets regrouped and reclaimed control, overpowering their opponents in the final moments and clinching the victory.
"Not 48 minutes?" Nuggets head coach Michael Malone questioned during the post-game press conference. "[But] what I'm most proud of is that we found each other, even when they had a great third quarter and it seemed like we had no defense and weren't handling the ball well."
The Nuggets will aim to build on this momentum when they square off against the San Antonio Spurs this Saturday, with James Harden on their radar. With 105 career triple-doubles under his belt, Harden continues to lurk in fifth place on the all-time triple-double list, and Jokic is one to watch as the chase continues to reshape the NBA's record books.
[Enrichment Data:]
- Jokic now ranks third on the all-time triple-doubles list, boasting a career total of 155 triple-doubles. He surpassed Magic Johnson, who remains in fourth place with a tally of 138 triple-doubles.
- The iconic duo of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the only players in NBA history with fewer triple-doubles to make the all-time top 5 than Jokic, with Johnson having 81 and Bird 58
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