Vucevic becomes first Magic center to record triple-double with assists
Both Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal notched a single triple-double during their respective runs with the Orlando Magic, but neither big man did so with 10 or more assists.
On Saturday night, in a 117-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Nikola Vucevic pulled off what his predecessors couldn't, recording a triple-double of 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 dimes in 38 minutes of action.
By doing so, Vucevic became the first center in franchise history to have his triple-double include assists.
.@NikolaVucevic became the first Magic center to record a triple-double with assists. Shaq & Dwight Howard both recorded triple-doubles with blocks. pic.twitter.com/pu7TzrlDTf
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 10, 2017
Magic Center Triple-Doubles
| Date | Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/11/1993 | Shaquille O'Neal | 24 | 28 | 3 | 15 |
| 12/11/2008 | Dwight Howard | 30 | 19 | 3 | 10 |
| 9/12/2017 | Nikola Vucevic | 31 | 13 | 10 | 1 |
"I tried to carry the load as much as I could with the other guys out," Vucevic said afterward, referring to injuries to Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, and Jonathan Isaac, according to the Orlando Sentinel's George Diaz. "Good effort; just came up short at the end."
Vucevic's triple-double was the first by a Magic player this season, and the first of his seven-year career.