There’s stuffing the stat sheet, and then there’s what Nikola Jokic did on Friday night.
The three-time MVP made NBA history with a 31-point, 21-rebound, 22-assist triple-double in an overtime win over the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first player ever to record a 30-20-20 game.
He reached the rarified air with an assist to Michael Porter Jr. with 1:18 remaining in overtime.
Only Russell Westbrook and Wilt Chamberlain had ever reached 20-20-20 in a game before Jokic raised the bar in 44 minutes against the Suns.
Jokic shot 13-of-22 from the floor, 3-of-7 from three and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line to lead the Nuggets to a 149-141 win.
The 30-year-old entered the night averaging a triple-double, posting 28.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game, as he battles Oklahoma City Thunder and Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the 2024-25 MVP.
Jokic has won three of the last four NBA MVP Awards, tying him with Moses Malone, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on the all-time list. If he were to claim a fourth, he would move alongside Chamberlain and LeBron James with four apiece.
