Nikola Jokic Delivers Unprecedented Performance in Nuggets’ Overtime Victory Against the Suns

Nikola Jokic delivered an exceptional performance with 31 points, 21 rebounds and a record-breaking 22 assists as the Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling 149-141 overtime victory on Saturday (AEDT).

With this impressive triple-double, Jokic became the very first player in NBA history to achieve at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists in a single game. He also equalled his own franchise record with his 29th triple-double of the season, bringing his career total to 149.

Aaron Gordon contributed significantly, scoring 27 points, including a personal best of seven three-pointers.

For the Suns, Kevin Durant was pivotal, scoring 29 points and nailing a crucial three-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime.

Jokic initiated overtime with a floater, kickstarting a 7-0 run for the Nuggets.

Denver built an 11-point lead after Christian Braun scored with a dunk and layup in the closing seconds of the game.

Having recently staged a stunning comeback from a 23-point deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Suns faced a significant challenge, trailing 85-64 in the third quarter before narrowing the gap as they entered the final term.

In the dying moments, they even led 122-120, but Denver regained the advantage with Braun’s three-pointer just 1.4 seconds from time, making it 125-122.

Key Takeaways

Suns: Devin Booker showcased his skills, scoring 16 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter but unfortunately went scoreless in overtime. Mason Plumlee had a strong outing with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Nuggets: Denver continues to lead the league in assists, averaging 31 per game. They matched this through the first three quarters and ended with 38.

Decisive Moment

Denver surged ahead by outscoring Phoenix 12-2 in the initial 2:48 of overtime.

Notable Stat

Entering the game ranked 28th in the NBA for three-pointers per game with an average of 12, the Nuggets hit that mark with Gordon’s fifth three-pointer early in the second quarter. They concluded the match with an impressive 21 of 40 from beyond the arc.

Next Matchup

The Suns will head to Dallas on Monday (AEDT), while the Nuggets prepare for the first of two consecutive games against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the same day.