By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic dished out a career-high 18 assists en route to his 43rd career-triple double in the Denver Nuggets‘ 1124 – 111 win over the Houston Rockets. The Serbian big man became the first big center with 18 or more dimes in a game, since a 1968 19-assist performance by Wilt Chamberlain, per Elias Sports.
“We have a good flow as a team,” Jokic said on the rate in which he was sending out assists to his teammates. “Then because you have the ball on your hands and make the plays for others so… yeah.. .when we have that flow it’s easier.”
Jokic stayed on the floor for just 34 minutes during which he had 19 points, 12 rebounds and three steals, apart from his 18 assists. Thanks to these numbers, he tied Nuggets great Fat Lever’s franchise record of 43 triple-doubles.
“That’s nice. Just cool,” Jokic said. “To kind of be on the same name with Fat Lever who is a legend of this franchise.” Fat Lever’s #12 jersey has been hanging from the rafters of Ball Arena since 2017.
It probably won’t be long until Jokic becomes the new triple-double record holder in Nuggets history.
“That’s how Nikola plays every night,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “I don’t think he cares who he plays against, big small..”