Another evening, one other history-making efficiency for Nikola Jokic. The reigning two-time MVP grew to become the sixth participant to document 100 profession triple-doubles on Tuesday evening when he completed with 14 factors, 11 rebounds and 10 assists within the Denver Nuggets’ wire-to-wire 133-112 win over the Houston Rockets.
“Not dangerous for a stat-padder,” Jokic joked postgame when requested what the milestone meant to him.
It was maybe becoming that Jokic reached the mark in understated vogue, as is his type. He barely needed to break a sweat in opposition to the lowly Rockets, who’ve now misplaced 10 video games in a row and have the worst document within the league at 13-48. If Jokic had needed to, he might have put up some large numbers, simply as Damian Lillard did together with his 71-point evening in opposition to the Rockets over the weekend.
Instead, Jokic spent most of his 28 minutes on cruise management, and did not even test in throughout the fourth quarter. He solely took 11 photographs on the evening, and 4 of them got here on one sequence the place he saved lacking tip-ins earlier than lastly getting one to go. Those three tip-in makes an attempt had been three of his 4 misses, as he in any other case scored with ease. His assists, likewise, had been usually as primary because it will get.
Check out this one to Jamal Murray to get a way for what was occurring on this sport.
But whereas this wasn’t some spectacular Jokic efficiency, the milestone is a testomony to his rising legacy. The solely gamers with extra triple-doubles than Jokic are Russell Westbrook (198), Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138), Jason Kidd (107) and LeBron James (106). His present tempo, the 28-year-old Jokic might very effectively transfer up the leaderboard this season and can possible be sitting atop the class throughout the subsequent few years.
At 24.6 factors, 11.7 rebounds and 10 assists per sport this marketing campaign, Jokic is on tempo to hitch Westbrook and Robertson as the one gamers in NBA historical past to common a triple-double for a whole season. With the Nuggets’ win on Tuesday, they’re now 24-0 this season when Jokic information a triple-double.
Those stats, mixed with the truth that the Nuggets are 44-19, which is one of the best document within the Western Conference and third-best document within the league, have Jokic in line to win a 3rd consecutive MVP award. The solely different gamers to do this are Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird.
