Nikola Jokic joins LeBron James on rare triple-double list / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Jokic's 80th triple-double put him alongside LeBron James and among the few players who have added some blocks to their stat line.

Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski Credit AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in his 80th career triple-double, as the Denver Nuggets held off the undermanned Utah Jazz 115-110 on Saturday night.

Free throws this season

75%16,2Points made:16,2Accuracy:74,6%Place in standings:28Record max:33Record min:5Most made FTs:Nikola JokicTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

With that stat line, the Joker became the second player in the last 25 seasons to have multiple 30-point triple-doubles while collecting four blocks. He joins LeBron James, who also has two such games.

It was Jokic's fourth triple-double this season, and it marked the third time the Nuggets had multiple players score at least 30 points - a feat they never achieved last season.

Since blocks started being recorded during the 1973-74 season, Jokic is the fifth player to have multiple games with such numbers. Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson lead the league with four each, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has two, similar to Jokic and LeBron.

Russell Westbrook tops the all-time triple-double list with 194, while Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138), Jason Kidd (107), and LeBron James (105) are next.

Nikola Jokic is already the king of triple-doubles among NBA big men. His latest accomplishment should only further solidify his position as one of the greatest big men in the game's history.

"If you want to guard him 1-on-1, he's going to score," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of Jokic. "If you want to double-team him and put two on him, he's going to find the open man. Now, the question becomes, 'Can we make the open shot?'"

The score was tied at 110 when Jokic found an open Bruce Brown cutting into the lane for a dunk with 1:20 remaining. Jokic hit one of two free throws with 9.1 seconds left to make it 113-110, and Alexander-Walker air-balled a 3-pointer with five seconds to go.

Murray sank two free throws on the other end to seal the victory.

Malone left the game briefly with an ailing back, and assistant David Adelman coached in his absence. After being tended to in the locker room, the Nuggets'head coach returned in the second quarter.

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