Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Achieves Unique Feat Amongst Active NBA Centers

The Denver Nuggets saw Nikola Jokic give it his all tonight. In a game where his partner Jamal Murray was ice cold, Jokic took the responsibility of trying to will his team to a win. While the Nuggets ultimately fell to a buzzer-beating Buddy Hield tip-in, Jokic had an incredible game.

The Sacramento Kings walked out with the upset win to start their season hot. While the Nuggets did disappoint, Jokic notched yet another triple-double. With 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 14 assists, Jokic got his 42nd career triple-double this game. Big-men getting triple-doubles with assists is odd, but Jokic is changing how centers play the game. As a result, he now has more triple-doubles than all other centers in the league.

We saw Russell Westbrook unhappy with a triple-double earlier today because his team lost. While we can expect Jokic to keep the same energy, performances like this just prove what an aberration Jokic’s skill-set is in the league. But it won’t be for long, as more polished centers have started entering the league.

Denver Nuggets lose despite Jokic impressing

The Sacramento Kings fought hard all game to ensure that the Nuggets do not win this game. In all honesty, the game could have headed to 2OT if not for the prayer of a tip-in by Hield at the buzzer. Considering the way the momentum had shifted more towards Denver in that game, Nikola Jokic could have left the building with a win for his team.

He did have help from quite a few sides. This includes Michael Porter Jr., who dropped a very efficient 24-points tonight. Will Barton also stepped up. However, there were 7 Sacramento players who scored in double digits, with three dropping twenty. It was a great performance by the entire team who rallied to make this win happen in OT.

Much of the blame may fall on Jamal Murray for his stinker tonight. However, it is just the first game of the year and hopefully, he finds his form as the season progresses. For now, it was a great win by the Kings and an admirable effort by Jokic.