Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is moving closer to making NBA history after another big performance on the basketball court. The superstar center helped his team defeat the New Orleans Pelicans in a wild overtime game on October 24. Jokic scored a huge triple-double to guide Denver to a 141-135 victory at home. Fans across the basketball world continue to talk about his total dominance in the league. This latest win shows why he is viewed by many as the top player in basketball today.
Key Takeaways
- Nikola Jokic recorded 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 141-135 overtime win over the Pelicans.
- Jokic is now just 10 triple-doubles away from tying Russell Westbrook’s all-time record of 209.
- Jamal Murray supported Jokic with a game-high 42 points to help Denver seal the victory.
During the hard-fought victory, Jokic put up great numbers that powered the offense. He scored 35 points while shooting 12 for 23 from the field. In addition to his scoring, he grabbed 15 rebounds and gave out 10 assists to his teammates. He also made a big impact on defense by collecting three blocks and two steals. His all-around play kept the team stable when the game got tight in overtime.
With this stat line, Jokic is now just 10 triple-doubles away from catching Russell Westbrook for the most all-time regular season triple-doubles in NBA history. Westbrook currently holds the record with 209 triple-doubles. If you count playoff games, Jokic actually already has more total triple-doubles than Westbrook. Stars around the league, including Victor Wembanyama, have praised his skills on the floor. It is another major storyline in sports this week, just like when Kimi Antonelli captured the US GP pole position in motor racing.
Jokic was not working alone on the floor during the victory against New Orleans. Point guard Jamal Murray had a huge night of his own by scoring a game-high 42 points. Murray helped coach David Adelman lead the squad by adding six assists and hitting 10 free throws. His strong scoring gave Denver the extra power needed to pull away late. Together, Murray and Jokic formed a tough combination that the Pelicans could not stop.
Denver also received great help from their younger role players during the match. Trevon Brazile scored 17 points to provide a lift off the bench and keep the momentum going. Christian Braun added 15 points with smart cuts and defense throughout the evening. Young players stepping up in critical moments happen all across sports, similar to how Sal Frelick and Cooper Pratt led the Brewers to a comeback victory recently. Denver needed all of those points to survive the fast attack from New Orleans.
The Pelicans played with plenty of energy and forced Denver’s defense to work very hard. Six different players on the Pelicans managed to score more than 10 points in the loss. However, Denver did a good job containing guard Jordan Poole. The former Warriors and Wizards guard was held to just six points all night. Stopping Poole kept the Pelicans from finding enough late points to win the game.
This home victory gives Denver more momentum as they build their record this season. Even though some basketball analysts doubt if Denver can get back to the NBA Finals, Jokic proves his value every night. He continues to play at an elite level while chasing regular season history. Denver fans in the Mile High City can look forward to more fun nights as Jokic gets closer to the record.
