Jokic posts another historic triple-double, but Sabonis remains ahead in the season

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Another night in the NBA, another triple-double by Nikola Jokic. Third straight after the All-Star break.

The Serbian center led the Denver Nuggets to a 103-119 road victory over the Golden State Warriors, posting a historic 32 points, 16 assists, and 16 rebounds.

With four steals, Jokic is the first player in NBA history to reach those numbers in a game. Also, only he and Oscar Robertson (11) have had three or more 30/15/15 performances.

“We had three losses before the All-Star break, now we have three wins. It’s how the game is, a game of runs. In the season, you have a good period, a bad period; you want to have a longer good period than a bad one and a short bad period,” Jokic said. “I think we are just going in the right direction. That is the most important thing.”

Even though Jokic posted his 18th triple-double of the season, Domantas Sabonis remains at the top of the league with his 20th, as he led the Sacramento Kings to a 107-123 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the Crypto.com Arena.

The Lithuanian center finished the match with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Ivica Zubac posted 16 points with six rebounds for the losing side.

“I think people kind of become numb to what he’s doing,” De’Aaron Fox said of Sabonis. “Averaging close to a triple-double, that’s a tough thing to do.”

European players took the spotlight again as Luka Doncic joined Jokic and Sabonis with another great game, scoring 33 points, with six rebounds and assists, but in a 133-111 Dallas Mavericks loss to the Indiana Pacers on the road.

Nikola Vucevic had a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds in a 106-114 Chicago Bulls win over the New Orleans Pelicans, with Jonas Valanciunas scoring 14 points with 17 rebounds for the losing team.

Lauri Markkanen led the Utah Jazz to a 128-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs in a European clash versus Victor Wembanyama. The Finnisher had 26 points, while Wemby posted another double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Bogdan Bogdanovic had a solid night with 17 points in a 109-92 Atlanta Hawks win over the Orlando Magic, with Franz Wagner scoring 19 points for the defeated Florida team, while Vasilije Micic scored 11 points and dished seven assists in an 80-93 Charlotte Hornets road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Alperen Sengun had another good game with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but Houston Rockets suffered at home to Oklahoma City Thunder, losing 110-123.

Previously, Giannis Antetokounmpo guided the Milwaukee Bucks to a commanding victory over Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers.

NBA results:
Indiana – Dallas 133-111 (Doncic 33p, 6r, 6as, Kleber 3p)
Washington – Cleveland 105-114 (Coulibaly 3p)
Atlanta – Orlando 109-92 (Bogdanovic 17p, Capela 4p, 7r – F. Wagner 19p, M. Wagner 2p, Bitadze 2p)
Golden State – Denver 103-119 (Saric 4p – Jokic 32p, 16r, 16as)
Houston – Oklahoma 110-123 (Sengun 19p, 12r)
New Orleans – Chicago 106-114 (Valanciunas 14p, 17r – Vucevic 22p, 13r)
Utah – San Antonio 128-109 (Markkanen 26p, Yurtseven 3p – Wembanyama 22p, 10r, Mamukelashvili 8p, Osman 3p, Sochan 10)
Portland – Charlotte 80-93 (Micic 11p, 7as)
LA Clippers – Sacramento 107-123 (Zubac 16p, 6r, Theis 8p, 6r – Sabonis 17p, 15r, 12as)