Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, has been putting together incredible performance after incredible performance throughout the 2023-24 regular season. On Thursday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, he had yet another one.
The Nuggets destroyed the short-handed Grizzlies 142-105 and Jokic was a driving force behind the blowout victory. Denver led by as many as 38 points in the fourth quarter, as they dominated from start to finish.
Jokic finished the game with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, needing just 30 minutes of playing time to record his 11th triple-double of the season. The final assist came with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter when Jokic found Christian Braun for a dunk
While triple-doubles are nothing new for the Nuggets star, this one was special and different from most of the others. Jokic was perfect from the field against Memphis, going 11-of-11 overall, knocking down his only 3-point attempt and all three of his free throws.
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It is the third time in his career that Jokic has recorded a triple-double without missing a shot from the field. That ties an NBA record, which was held by the great Wilt Chamberlain, for the most 100 percent shooting triple-doubles in league history.
“It’s a miss and make game,” Jokic said. “Of course, sometimes you miss, sometimes you make. Today I made all of my shots. It’s not going to be a lot of those nights.”
This was the second time that Jokic scored at least 25 points in a triple-double in which he didn’t miss a shot, which also tied a record Chamberlian held. Coming off a game against the Golden State Warriors in which Jokic made all 18 of his free throw attempts, he is reaching new heights in terms of his efficiency this season.
The triple-double on Thursday night was the 116th in the regular season in Jokic’s career. That puts him in fourth place all-time and only 22 behind Magic Johnson, who is in third place. Second place is Oscar Robertson with 181 and in first place is Russell Westbrook, who has 198 and counting.
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