The Serbian center got his 22nd triple double of the season —this time with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists—, vital to lead his quintet to a 115-109 victory over the struggling Cavaliers.
The thing about the “Joker” and his triple-doubles is balsamic for the Nuggets: every time he did it, his team won, and on this occasion even surpassing their season averages in rebounds (11.5) and assists (10.1).
Only two players in NBA history have finished seasons with triple-double averages: Oscar Robertson, legend of the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1960s-70s, and Russell Westbrook, currently with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The great Big O achieved it with the Royals in the 1961-62 season, while Westbrook has achieved it three times: 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2020-21, for which Jokic could be the third with three double figures at closing of the tournament
The Nuggets had to go to extra to defeat some “Cavs” who dominated the game shortly after the final whistle, but the spectacular effectiveness from the perimeter (47.2 percent) catapulted them to success.
Michael Porter J. (25) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17) seconded Jokic, on a night in which Canadian guard Jamal Murray (16 points and 9 assists) reappeared, after several weeks injured.
The leader of the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics, also triumphed on the day, who needed extra time to defeat the Indiana Pacers 142-138, almost half achieved by the “Jays”: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Both got double-double: Tatum 31 points and 12 rebounds, Brown 30 and 19, seconded by Malcolm Brogdan (24) and Derrick (17), on the night of another comeback, Marcus Smart, who warmed up after his injury with a contribution of 15 cartons.
At the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Joel Embiid (27 points-19 rebounds) and James Harden (31 scored) had no compassion for their visitors, the Memphis Grizzlies, defeated 105-110.
And finally Luka Doncic (28 points and 10 assists) fully enjoyed the arrival of Kyrie Irving (23 scored) and together with Tim Hardaway Jr. (22) led the biggest win of the night: 142-116 over San Antonio Spurs .
Of the remaining games of the day, the 43 points scored by Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen in the victory of his Utah Jazz team over the Oklahoma City Thunder, a quintet in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stood out with 39 cards, stood out.
The latter is the fifth best scorer per game this season with an average of 30.8 points, surpassed by Doncic (33.3), Embiid (33.1), Giannis Antetokoumpo (31.8) and Damian Lillard (31.4 ).
Results of the day on Thursday:
— Indiana Pacers 138-Boston Celtics 142
— Orlando Magic 108-Detroit Piston 106
— Cleveland Cavaliers 109-Denver Nuggets 115
— Toronto Raptors 115-New Orleans Pelicans 110
— Philadelphia 76ers 110-Memphis Grizzlies 105
— Dallas Mavericks 142-San Antonio Spurs 116
— Utah Jazz 120-Oklahoma City Thunder 119
— Sacramento Kings 133-Portland Trail Blazers 116
— Los Angeles Lakers 124-Golden State Warriors 111
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