February 15, 2025
Nikola Jokic records his 18th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets’ win over the Magic

Nikola Jokic records his 18th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets’ win over the Magic

Nikola Jokić recorded his third straight triple-double – and his 18th of the season – in the Denver Nuggets’ 113-100 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Jokić scored 20 points with 14 rebounds and 10 assists as well as three blocks and three steals. The closest player to Jokic in triple-doubles this season is LeBron James, who currently has eight for the Los Angeles Lakers.

With 18 triple-doubles, Jokić achieved the fourth-highest single-season total in this category of his career. His next triple-double will tie him to his third-highest single-season total (issued in the 2021-22 season). The most records recorded by Jokić throughout his career were 29 in the 2022/23 season. The NBA record for triple-doubles in a season is 42, set by Russell Westbrook (now Jokić’s teammate) in 2016–17.

The Nuggets have 40 games remaining on their regular season schedule after Sunday’s contest. Westbrook’s mark, which broke a mark set by Oscar Robertson that stood for 55 years, is likely out of reach for Jokić. But a new career high in this category seems achievable this season.

Christian Braun also scored 20 points with 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who improved their record to 26-16 and helped maintain fourth place in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray added 19 points, followed by Michael Porter Jr. with 15 points. Denver has won six of its last seven games and seven of its last 10.

Sunday’s loss was the third in a row for the Magic, who have lost seven of their last 10 games and dropped to No. 7 in the Eastern Conference standings. Orlando is just half a game behind the Atlanta Hawks and half a game ahead of the Miami Heat.

Wendell Carter Jr. led the Magic with 16 points and 14 rebounds, followed by 14 points off the bench from Anthony Black. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tristan da Silva each scored 12 points.

Denver returns from its two-game trip to Florida to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. (Unfortunately, there will be no matchup between Jokic and Joel Embiid as the Sixers center is out with swelling in his left knee.) Orlando travels to Toronto to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

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