By now, no one is surprised that Nikola Jokic has achieved a triple-double. He does it as often as any other player reaches 10 points, even with greater apparent ease. Because getting double digits in any statistical category in basketball requires talent.
Doing it in three of them in every game is only within the reach of a few.Jokic recorded his 16th triple-double of the season against the Orlando Magic (more than double the second, Josh Giddey, who has seven), but better yet, with this one, he already has 180 in his career. He is just one away from surpassing Oscar Robertson (181) as the second human with the most TDs in history. Ahead of him will be only Russell Westbrook, who has 207
The one achieved against Orlando is monumental, a new 30-point, 20-rebound TD, which are very rare to see. In fact, it is the eighth of his career. Since the 1970s, when the NBA and ABA merged, there have been only 14 games in which a player has recorded at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, and in eight of them the protagonist is the ‘Joker‘
In Orlando, Jokic achieved 34 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists starring in another game to remember and, incidentally, putting another step in his ascent to the MVP award of the season, another one. As of today, with Antetokounmpo just out of injury and Doncic with many doubts at the Lakers, the ‘Joker‘ and Shai are the most solid candidates for that award.
But it was not enough. Despite a monumental TD, Jokic lost with Denver to a Magic team capable of losing to the Hornets and beating the Nuggets. Orlando is a team to be taken seriously in the East, it is a serious threat to established orders such as the Celtics or Knicks this season
Anthony Black shone with his 38 points and Desmond Bane stood out with 24. The point guard made two free throws that put his team ahead, 127-126, with seven seconds left. Then, Jamal Murry, missed the shot that would have given the victory to the Nuggets and would have given more meaning to the beastly triple-double of Jokic.
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