DENVER — Nikola Jokić sat in entrance of his locker, calmly scrolling by his cellphone, seemingly unimpressed that half-hour earlier he made NBA historical past.
The three-time NBA MVP had the league’s first 30-20-20 triple-double within the Denver Nuggets’ 149-141 time beyond regulation victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday evening. Jokic had 31 factors, 21 rebounds and a career-high 22 assists.
“It’s not supposed go that way,” Jokić mentioned. “I was talking to (Aaron Gordon) and he said to me, ‘That was a quiet 30 points.’ I didn’t do anything special, just seemed like everyone was in flow.”
Jokić tied his franchise report along with his twenty ninth triple-double of the season, and he reached it simply 1:20 into the second half along with his tenth rebound. He was approaching the triple-double early, ending the primary quarter with 10 factors, six assists and 6 rebounds and had 13, 9 and eight at halftime.
The 30-year-old from Serbia is averaging a triple-double with 19 video games left within the season. His 28.9 factors, 12.9 rebounds and 10.6 assists per sport all rank within the prime three within the NBA.
“I can’t describe him, so don’t ask me to,” Denver coach Michael Malone mentioned. “The guy is just an incredible player, and when you are one of one in this league, with the tremendous history of this league, that says a lot. There’s a lot of good players in this league, but Nikola, in my opinion, is just in a class all by himself.”
His quick begin to time beyond regulation lifted the Nuggets after that they had blown a 21-point lead. He had 5 factors, 5 assists and three rebounds within the further interval, taking part in practically 45 minutes general.
He made a 4-foot turnaround to start time beyond regulation, fed Jamal Murray for 2 baskets and assisted on a dunk and layup by Christian Braun in a 13-second span.
“He’s just one of a kind,” Braun mentioned. “You’ll never see something like this ever again – ever. You’ll never see a player that does the things he does night in and night out.”
Jokić’s earlier excessive in assists was 19, which occurred Feb. 24 at Indiana. He surpassed that on Michael Porter Jr.’s dunk that gave Denver a 139-130 lead with 1:18 left.
Jokić has 149 profession triple-doubles and Friday was the seventh time this season he has had a minimum of 15 factors, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. That tied Oscar Robertson for probably the most in a single season.
His 22 assists are probably the most by a middle in a sport however he’s far wanting Scott Skiles’ NBA report of 30, a mark he isn’t involved about.
“I have different problems than that right now,” he mentioned.
