On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Denver Nuggets visiting the Utah Jazz. The Jazz were in the midst of a three-game losing streak, with tanking as their main strategy, but the Nuggets had previously shown a tendency to support weaker teams in the league, so they could not afford to underestimate or be careless. In this game, both teams engaged in high-scoring play, with the Nuggets struggling to widen the point difference. However, the Jazz made a strong comeback at the end of the second quarter with a 15-2 run to take the lead. After halftime, the Jazz's shooting accuracy dropped, allowing the Nuggets to make a strong counterattack, winning the third quarter by 11 points and regaining control of the game. In the final quarter, the Jazz made a desperate attempt to catch up, but the Nuggets, led by Jokic and Westbrook, extended their lead to double digits, effectively sealing the game. Ultimately, the Nuggets defeated the Jazz 132-121.
The Jazz are known for their ability to excel in chaotic situations, with Clarkson and Sexton leading the backcourt. However, the Nuggets, driven by the trio of Jokic, Westbrook, and Murray, played their most perfect game together since forming their partnership, completely dominating the Jazz on both offense and defense! Throughout the game, the Nuggets outrebounded the Jazz 51-37, including a 17-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, and outscored them 76-60 in the paint and 34-15 in fast-break points. The Nuggets' fierce defense forced the Jazz into 16 turnovers, converting those into 21 points; in contrast, the Nuggets only committed 7 turnovers, with the Jazz scoring just 12 points off those turnovers. Even though the Jazz managed to stay afloat with 13 three-pointers (while the Nuggets only made 9), it was not enough to shake the Nuggets' lead.
The Nuggets easily overpowered the Jazz, with Jokic once again demonstrating his formidable bottom-line capabilities! In the entire game, Jokic played 38 minutes, shooting 14 of 33 (3 of 9 from three-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line, accumulating an impressive stat line of 36 points, 22 rebounds, 11 assists, and 4 steals, with a plus-minus rating of +20 on the court. Although Jokic's shooting touch was not at its best in the first half, his ability to adjust is incredibly strong, as he took charge of both offense and rebounding, adding another "white toy" to his collection: Markkanen! Especially in the third quarter, Jokic scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, and made 1 steal, completely dominating both ends of the court and becoming the key to the Nuggets' turnaround!
At the same time, Jokic broke several NBA records and achieved a milestone! According to NBA official statistics, after this game, Jokic's total career regular-season points reached 15,006, officially surpassing the 15,000-point mark. Additionally, this was Jokic's 13th triple-double of the season, the most in the league! In another statistical category, this was the fifth time in Jokic's career that he recorded a massive triple-double of 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 10+ assists, surpassing Baylor (4 times) to rank third in NBA history, only behind Oscar Robertson (7 times) and Wilt Chamberlain (16 times)!
Jokic turned the tide, but he was not alone in his efforts. The four starters—Porter, Braun, Murray, and Westbrook—all had outstanding performances! Among them, Braun scored 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, transforming into a relentless warrior on both ends of the court, always opting for layups over jump shots and dunks over layups; Porter scored 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 three-pointers, mercilessly taking down opponents with his versatile shooting; Murray contributed 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming an organizational master to aid the team even when his shooting was off! Westbrook was even more impressive! He played 32 minutes, shooting a perfect 7 of 7 and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line, contributing a comprehensive stat line of 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals with zero turnovers, boasting a plus-minus rating of +23, the highest among all players! Moreover, Westbrook also teamed up with Jokic and Murray to create multiple legendary records!
According to NBA official statistics, this was Westbrook's 201st career triple-double, making him the third player in NBA history to record a triple-double with a 100% shooting percentage and zero turnovers, following Jokic and Sabonis. Additionally, Westbrook and Jokic became the 16th pair in NBA history to achieve triple-doubles in the same game. It's worth noting that Westbrook is the first player in NBA history to record triple-doubles alongside three different teammates (George and James), truly unprecedented! In another statistical category, the trio of Jokic, Westbrook, and Murray each recorded 10+ assists in the same game, a feat not seen in the league since 1992. Even more remarkable, Jokic, Westbrook, and Murray each scored at least 15 points and 10 assists in the same game, becoming the first trio in NBA history to accomplish this, truly unprecedented!
After the game, Porter pointed out incisively that both Jokic and Westbrook achieved triple-doubles, which was the result of the whole team's efforts; Malone also stated that Westbrook is a Hall of Fame candidate and one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and he came here to win championships; NBA coach George Karl also declared that Westbrook is an excellent addition to the Nuggets, and his performance deserves all the praise! It's worth mentioning that in the new season, when Westbrook starts, the Nuggets have a record of 8 wins and 2 losses; when Westbrook comes off the bench, the Nuggets have a record of 10 wins and 11 losses! MVPs are not overrated, and Westbrook's abilities are still at the starting level. His fighting spirit and temperament are rare to find. I believe that Malone should continue to rely heavily on Westbrook in the future to alleviate the burden on Jokic! What do you think about this, basketball fans? Leave your comments and let's discuss it.