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You wouldn’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of history, yet even the players, coaching staff, and supporters of the Phoenix Suns likely recognized the remarkable and unparalleled performance that Nikola Jokic delivered, which propelled the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 149-141 overtime win.
Jokic achieved the first-ever 30-20-20 game in NBA history, posting 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 22 assists, astonishing everyone, including legends like Kevin Durant.
“It was a fast-paced match, filled with numerous possessions. The entire offense revolves around his playmaking. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised he hasn’t accomplished this before; he’s come so close. Truly an all-time great, no doubt. What’s wild is that you wouldn’t have thought he had those stats,” Durant remarked.
Durant noted he was unaware of the historic nature of Jokic’s performance while it was unfolding. “As I glanced up at the scoreboard near the end of overtime, I thought, ‘Wow, 30-20-20.’ That’s insane. He handles the ball every possession, so it’s natural for the stats to accumulate, especially during overtime,” he explained.
“He’s a legendary player, and you can’t take that away from him. He averages a significant number of points for a reason. He plays hard. We can deal with intense play, but if he’s making his shots, it becomes incredibly difficult throughout the game. It’s Jokic; he scores efficiently. I wouldn’t label any aspect of his game as weak, but facing players like him requires you to give your all and see where that leads,” Durant commented.
When asked about the MVP race, he emphasized that the Serbian center can never be considered an underdog: “Jokic is never going to be an underdog, regardless of the situation. I’m not sure who should receive the MVP; both are playing outstanding basketball. But Jokic has shed the underdog label for good after his first MVP award.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
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