Jokic posts historic 40-point triple-double in Nuggets' win over Hornets
Nikola Jokic is something else.
The Denver Nuggets center scored 40 points, collected a career-high 27 rebounds, and dished 10 assists to lead Denver to a 119-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Jokic is the first player to post a 35-25-10 triple-double since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon via Stathead. Chamberlain is the only player other than Jokic to record a 40-27-10 stat line in a game, doing so four times, per MacMahon.
"What he does is just amazing every night," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "So, just really thankful he's wearing a Nuggets uniform."
The back-to-back MVP did much of his work on the glass early, racking up 20 rebounds in the first half alone. It was Jokic's 12th career game with 20 or more rebounds, per StatMuse.
Denver outscored Charlotte by 20 in the 40 minutes that Jokic played, but the Hornets won the eight minutes that he sat by 16 points. The Nuggets' lead was down to two in the final seconds before Jokic iced the game with a pair of free throws, helping him reach the 40-point threshold.
Jokic is averaging 24.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and a career-high nine assists per game this season.