This one we risk remembering for a while, and the Hornets even more than us. That night Nikola Jokic was close to statistical heights that few even dreamed of, and in the end it gives a historic score sheet, one more in the career of the reigning double-MVP.
It should not be forgotten, Nikola Jokic is double-MVP in title.
And here he is suddenly tumbling cheerfully into the discussions for the 2023 trophy.
Bone the racket of the Hornets, last of the NBA and counting only on the nice Plumlee in the paint? That was the plan for Nikola Jokic, but maybe not to that extent. Denver drooling in the first half against a team that plays in an uninhibited way and seems to have – a little – come back to life since the return of LaMelo Ball (31/5/5 again yesterday)? Nikola Jokic, he does his job and already compiles 6 points and 9 rebounds after the first quarter and 16 points and 20 rebounds at…halftime. 20 rebounds. At halftime. No mistake.
A big third quarter of the locals and the church is then put back in the center of the village, and if the end of the match will still offer us its share of suspense thanks to a conciliatory and playful sparring partner, the end of the game will be played on the throwing line for the Jokerand will contribute to increasing its numbers in the scoring story to always add more salt to its performance.
Nikola Jokic is the first player to record 30+ PTS, 25+ REB, and 5+ AST in a game since Kevin Love in 2010. pic.twitter.com/YO0wo5DKma
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 19, 2022
Nikola Jokic has the first 35-25-10 triple-double since Wilt Chamberlain’s 53-32-14 performance in 1968 (via @Stathead).
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 19, 2022
40 points, 27 rebounds, 10 assists. 13/26 shooting, 12/17 throwing. Wednesday was 43/14/8/5 against the Wizards, for the month of December it’s a small average of 30/12/9 to validate the revving up, and if the Nuggets are today Top 4 of the West with such a sharp Joker, it is also time to mention the name of the Serbian kingpin in the megaphone… in the race for the MVP, the same one we were talking about yesterday.
Jayson Tatum is very good huh, but little by little and now completely official, Nikola Jokic is back in the game and aims for a legendary pass of three, which only Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird have managed to validate in the entire history of the NBA. Niko already has Larry’s genius and a few Wilt-style stat sheets, so why not?