Jokic achieves NBA's first 30-20-20 triple-double

Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, recorded the first 30-point, 20-rebound, 20-assist triple-double in league history as the Nuggets beat the Suns 149-141. He finished with 31 points, 21 rebounds and a career-high 22 assists.

"The game shouldn't have gone this way," Jokic said lightly. "I talked to (Aaron Gordon) and he said to me, 'It was a quiet 30 points.' I didn't do anything special. It seemed like everything was flowing naturally."

This was Jokic's 29th triple-double this season, tying his own record in the history of the Nuggets. He completed a triple-double in just 1 minute and 20 seconds at the start of the second half, grabbing his 10th rebound. In fact, Jokic showed his triple-double potential early on, with 10 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds in the first quarter, and the data had climbed to 13 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds by the end of the half.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone praised: "I can't describe him in words, so don't let me try to explain. He is an incredible player. In this league with a glorious history, a unique player like him means a lot. There are many excellent players in the league, but in my opinion, Nikola is a completely independent existence."

Jokic quickly helped the Nuggets gain a foothold in overtime after the team had squandered a 21-point lead. He scored five points, five assists and three rebounds in five minutes of overtime, playing nearly 45 minutes in the entire game. He opened the overtime with a 4-foot fadeaway jumper, then assisted Jamal Murray to score consecutively and assisted Christian Braun with two dunks in just 13 seconds.

"He's just one of a kind," Braun said. "You'll never see another player like him, ever. Nobody can do what he does every night."