Nikola Jokic Puts up a Historic Stat Line to Help Nuggets Overcome the Pelicans in OT

Nuggets' star Nikola Jokic in 2019
Nuggets' star Nikola Jokic in 2019. Photo by Nikola Krstic/Shutterstock (10359146l)

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic continues to show why he should be in consideration to win the NBA MVP award for the second straight season. The reigning MVP delivered a historic stat line on Sunday night that helped his team the Nuggets get a 138-130 win in overtime against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jokic finished the night with 46 points, 12 boards, and 11 assists while adding four blocks and three steals. According to ESPN, no one ever managed to get these numbers in an NBA game since the league started tracking blocks and steals in the early ’70s. The 27-year-old Serbian also became just the second player in history to get a 45+ points triple-double while shooting 70 percent from the floor. The first one was Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain.

What makes Jokic’s night even more impressive is that the majority of his points came when Denver needed him the most. He scored 30 out of his 46 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“My teammates were looking for me. I was making shots and being aggressive. Just a really good period,” Jokic said after the game.

Nikola Jokic is currently averaging 25.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His performances not only made him one of the favorites for this season’s MVP award but also helped the Nuggets stay afloat without some of their key contributors. Denver is currently sixth in the Western Conference with a 38-26 record.

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