On January 11th, Beijing time, the Denver Nuggets hosted the Brooklyn Nets and won a decisive victory with a score of 124-105. The Nuggets had already established a significant lead by the end of the third quarter. Although the Nets have been performing poorly in the Eastern Conference, they showed great resilience in this game, launching a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to reduce the gap to just 5 points. At the critical moment, Westbrook and Jokic worked together to stabilize the situation. Murray missed the second half due to a knee injury, and we hope for his speedy recovery. The Nuggets are now on a two-game winning streak, ranking fourth in the West with a record of 22 wins and 15 losses, only 1.5 games behind the third-placed Memphis Grizzlies.
In this game, both stars of the Nuggets recorded triple-doubles. Among them, Jokic stood out with an impressive performance, shooting 14 of 21 for 35 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and 4 steals, with a plus-minus value as high as +33. It is clear that Jokic has become the top star in the league, with a dominance that can be considered historical, surpassing even Jordan and James in terms of all-around ability. However, in the latest MVP rankings, Jokic dropped to second place, being overtaken by Alexander of the Thunder. If Jokic wants to win the MVP, the Nuggets' record must at least enter the top 3 in the West, which would give him a chance.
The 36-year-old Westbrook continued to start, making 8 of 17 shots for 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with 1 steal and 1 block. He shot 2 of 5 from beyond the arc and made 7 of 9 free throws. In recent years, Westbrook has faced much criticism, drifting through various teams in the NBA, experiencing immense pressure during his time with the Lakers. He was once a strong contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award but may find it difficult to compete for the award if he continues to start due to Malone's trust.
Jokic had a good chance of becoming the best player in this game, but Westbrook successfully stole all the limelight. Not only did Westbrook achieve a triple-double, but he also broke the NBA's nearly 78-year-old record, with a total of 202 career triple-doubles, firmly holding the top spot in history as the only player with over 200 triple-doubles. The future record-breaker could very well be Jokic, who already has 15 triple-doubles this season, with a career total of 145 triple-doubles ranking third in history, only behind Robertson and Westbrook. Jokic is 57 triple-doubles away from Westbrook, and considering his current frequency of achieving triple-doubles, he might catch up in as few as three seasons.
Moreover, Westbrook and Jokic have created many amazing feats together. Firstly, Westbrook and Jokic both scored 25+ triple-doubles in the same game, making them the first pair of teammates in NBA history to achieve this feat, something that classic duos like James and Wade, Jordan and Pippen, Curry and Durant have never accomplished. Secondly, as teammates, Westbrook and Jokic have both achieved triple-doubles in the same game twice, tying them with Butler and Adebayo for first place in history, and it is only a matter of time before they take sole possession of the top spot.
Westbrook's career is nearing its end, and what he longs for most now is to lift the championship trophy. The Nuggets are not currently among the favorites to win the title, but as the season progresses, after the 2025 All-Star Game, the Nuggets will surely launch a full-scale charge. In fact, they have the capability to compete with any top-tier teams such as the Thunder, Cavaliers, and Celtics.