Nikola Jokic scored a triple-double by halftime and provided a solid start to Nuggets heading in to second half.
Nikola Jokic, who is already leading the MVP chart this season, set a remarkable milestone during the Denver Nuggets’ 139-120 win over the Atlanta Hawks. The Serbian superstar achieved the fastest triple-double in NBA history.
Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists. He reached this milestone in just 14 minutes and 33 seconds on the court. Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each added 21 points. Russell Westbrook dropped a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Each starter from Denver Nuggets recorded 15 points or more. On the flip note, Trae Young paced the Hawks with 30 points and nine assists, while De’Andre Hunter chipped in with 20 points. Nikola Jokic scored a triple-double by halftime and provided a solid start to Nuggets heading in to second half.
Nikola Jokic is the first player in NBA history to have at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a game while playing 30 minutes or less. In the same game, he scored the fastest triple-double in NBA history, surpassing Jim Tucker who made the record in 1955.
Russell Westbrook also shared his though on his chemistry with Nikola Jokic. “He’s the best player in the world. My job is to make the game easy for him, and he does it for everybody else. And it’s a pleasure to be able to share the floor with him,” Westbrook said after the game. The Nuggets are 9-2 with Russell Westbrook as a starter. The duo dropped a triple double in December in the same game.
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Denver had an 8-3 lead in the start and Trea Young tied the game. Nuggets came back and stretched the lead to seven points but Dyson Daniel tied the game again at 19 points. Murray-Jokic charged the Denver and outscored the Hawks 40-33 in the first quarter. Atlanta had an upper hand in the second quarter and despite a Jokic triple-double, the deficit was cut to three points at halftime.
Hawks were missing Jalen Johnson so Vít Krejci and De’Andre Hunter came off the bench to provide a contribution in second half. Hawks struggled in their shooting and Denver routed Atlanta 41-24 in the third. Young managed to hit two straight three-pointers to reduce the deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
Trae Young tried hard to rally a comeback in the fourth but the Nuggets stretched the lead to 25 points when Nikola Jokic was on the bench. Despite fielding all starters in the fourth quarter, Atlanta Hawks couldn’t close the gap and snapped a four-game winning streak.
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