Denver Nuggets star, Nikola Jokic, has posted the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history after a valiant 61 points along with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the double-overtime loss to Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic is already one of the leading candidates for the MVP award this season and posting the highest scoring return by a player so far this season on his way to a historic triple-double has only done his cause much good.
Luka Doncic and James Harden are the only other players with 60-point triple-doubles in NBA history, with Doncic posting his in December 2022 for Dallas Mavericks while Harden went for 60 at the end of January in 2018 while at Houston Rockets.
The only blemish from the career-high night for Jokic was that the Nuggets fell 139-140 after double-overtime to Timberwolves, and Anthony Edwards was full of praise for his rival after the keenly contested clash.
“Nikola Jokić, he might be the best basketball player that I have ever seen close up, besides myself,” cracked Edwards, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds. “He is incredible. The MVP race is tough. I don’t know. He had 60. That is crazy.”
The result leaves Nuggets still third in the Western Conference, failing to go within a game of the Rockets, while Timberwolves are now tied with sixth-placed Grizzlies in the race for the final automatic playoff berth.
Grizzlies are now 44-32 for the season, same as Timberwolves, with both teams a game behind Golden State Warriors and a game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers, after the Memphis franchise lost to the Warriors as inspired by a 52-point masterpiece from Steph Curry.