Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic is a bonafide triple-double threat who is on the verge of becoming a triple-double machine.
In his team's 115-108 victory over the New York Knicks, the fourth-year centre registered his third triple-double of the season with 19 points (on 8-for-16 shooting), 15 assists and 14 rebounds.
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The 7-footer pushed the break…
And in the year 2019, this connection stays golden.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/8DgPNl3L1D
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 2, 2019
…he set up his fellow bigs…
THE CENTER CONNECTION pic.twitter.com/F4CyyBQ7Dc
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 2, 2019
How do you do the things that you do, Nikola Jokić? pic.twitter.com/fI0NAUrmqJ
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 2, 2019
…and even showed off his range during clutch time.
THREE-KOLA pic.twitter.com/5Eih1hUlN7
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 2, 2019
While it may have been just his third triple-double of the season, Jokic has fallen either one assist or one rebound shy of a triple-double on three separate occasions this season, making his presence as a triple-double threat very legitimate.
And he's only 23.
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To take it a step further, Jokic has already recorded 19 triple-doubles in his four-year career, and as NBA.com's Micah Adams points out, is already on the path of reaching uncharted territories as a centre.
19th career triple-double for Nikola Jokic.
— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) January 2, 2019
Only 59 to go catch Wilt for the most by a center.
Wilt: 78
Jokic: 19
Kareem: 17
With the win, the Nuggets remain atop the Western Conference by improving to 24-11 on the season and improved their mark at the Pepsi Center to 15-3 – only two other teams in the league boast better records at home (Milwaukee, Philadelphia).
The game was also big for Denver in that guard Gary Harris returned after missing 11 games with a hip injury. Harris' return comes just one game after veteran forward Paul Millsap returned from a broken toe; Harris finished with six points in under 20 minutes of action while Millsap scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just over 22 minutes.
After scoring 46 points in a win over the Suns, Jamal Murray scored just eight points in the win, but they came in emphatic fashion.
!!!!!! SHUT IT DOWN !!!!!!
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 2, 2019
JAMAL JUST DID THIS pic.twitter.com/aNPWLKQEhz
With Harris and Millsap back in the fold, the team now awaits the return of Will Barton and the potential season debuts of free agent acquisition Isaiah Thomas in addition to draft picks Michael Porter Jr. and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Nuggets next take the floor when they travel to Sacramento Wednesday night for a tough challenge against the Kings, who look to bounce back from an overtime loss to the Blazers.