Basketball history was made as teammates Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook pulled off something that’s never been done before – getting triple-doubles in the same game twice in one season.
The Denver Nuggets dominated the Brooklyn Nets 124-105, with Jokic putting up monster numbers: 35 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds. Not to be outdone, Westbrook added 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
“Wow,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after the game. “That’s pretty crazy. We’re watching history, folks.”
The dynamic duo first pulled off this feat on December 30 against Utah. In that game, Jokic went even bigger with 36 points, 22 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Westbrook had a “perfect” triple-double – making every single shot he took and not turning the ball over once.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
After the game, someone told Westbrook that his teams win 74% of the time when he gets a triple-double. He responded with a playful “Really?” and a wink – probably taking a shot at critics who say he chases stats.
But the best moment came right after, when he learned Jokic’s teams win 79% of their games when he gets a triple-double.
“Aaahh… Damn Joke! Dammit,” Westbrook laughed, snapping his fingers.
The Nuggets are on fire since making Westbrook a starter. In nine games, the 36-year-old veteran is putting up impressive numbers: 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. Even better? The team is crushing opponents when he’s on the court, outscoring them by 87 points.
Their new starting lineup with Westbrook is now one of the NBA’s best, ranking ninth out of 46 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes together.
As for the record books? Westbrook just notched his 202nd career triple-double, extending his all-time record. He’s now 21 ahead of Oscar Robertson in second place.
Jokic isn’t far behind – he’s third all-time with 145 triple-doubles. Among active players, only LeBron James (120) and Luka Doncic (80) are even close to these numbers.
