Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic entered rare company following a massive 40-point, 27-rebound, triple double performance toe fuel Denver to a 119-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
Jokic had 40 points and a career-high 27 rebounds, and 10 assists in yet another triple-double for the season, his 81st overall, and became just the third player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. Over his last three games, Jokic has tallied a combined 108 points, 52 rebounds, 26 assists and 11 steals, becoming the first player in league history with 100 points, 40 rebounds, 20 assists and 10 steals over a three-game span since steals became official back in 1973-1974.
Jokic joins the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, who accomplished the feat four times, and Elgin Baylor, with a number of other players coming close to the feat.
Chamberlain is the only other player to put up a stat line of at least 40-27-10, which he also did four times, the last was when he had 53 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists for Philadelphia on March 18, 1968.
“I didn’t know it was a 40-27-10 night but I knew he was having another Nikola Jokic stellar performance, efficient,” Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said (h/t ESPN). “And it’s not just about Nikola. It’s about his ability to make every one of his teammates better. Yeah, Nikola is a generational talent.”
“To be honest, I think it’s because of our defense and I was just in the right spot to rebound the ball,” Jokic said. “It’s not that I was grabbing for them or whatever, chasing for them. It just happened, you know? I wish it could be every night, to be honest.”
