On Sunday night, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets created history against the Dallas Mavericks in a game that was extremely close. The Nuggets extended their winning streak to five games with a 122-120 victory, but this was no ordinary win. Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, achieved a stat line never seen in league history.
The 27-year-old Serbian big man finished the game with an astounding 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists. He became the first player ever to record at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a regular-season contest.
“What a weapon to have late in the game,” said Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. “Close game. One-possession game. A player who hasn’t touched or fired the ball in a long time manages to make the most significant shot of the evening.
Jokic’s heroics were necessary to overcome a dominant performance by Mavericks superstar Kyrie Irving, who scored a game-high 43 points. Irving caught fire in the fourth quarter, knocking down four clutch 3-pointers to keep Dallas in the game. However, it was Michael Porter Jr. who delivered the dagger for the Nuggets, hitting a floater with just 6.5 seconds remaining to give Denver the lead for good.
“Mike got going early, and obviously I’ve got to do a better job of keeping him going,” Malone said. “He’s been playing at such a high level across the board. … It’s my responsibility to keep Michael Porter motivated and ensure that we are providing him with opportunities.
The loss dropped the Mavericks to 5-5 on the season, which is a disappointing start for the defending Western Conference champions. Luka Dončić finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists in the defeat.
On the other hand, the Nuggets’ fifth straight win improved their record to 7-3, placing them for fourth place in the West. Jokic’s historic performance was the driving force behind this victory, as he continues to cement his status as one of the greatest players in the NBA.
Porter stated, “There are games where he achieves triple-doubles, but they are not close triple-doubles.” “It’s not like he’s scoring 22, 10, and 11.” Indeed, the numbers 37, 18, and 15 are quite staggering.
Jokic’s ability to fill up the stat sheet in such a dominant fashion is truly remarkable. He has now recorded the 11th 35-15-15 game in regular season history and his second such performance.
The Nuggets will look to keep their winning streak alive when they hit the road for a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. As for the Mavericks, they’ll try to bounce back from this tough loss and get back on track in the highly competitive Western Conference.
With Jokic continuing to make NBA history and the Nuggets proving to be one of the top teams in the league, the 2023-24 season is shaping up to be another thrilling campaign for basketball fans.