Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets continued their rampage as they took on the 2022 NBA Finalists, the Boston Celtics, tonight. The hosts handed the visiting Celtics a Nikola Jokic masterclass. The 2x MVP razzle-dazzled his way to yet another triple-double.
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Jokic recorded 30 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and 0 turnovers in 32 minutes of action.
Denver was in control of the game all night long, with the biggest Boston lead being just three points. Coming in with a four-game win streak, the Celtics were held to just 27.3% shooting from the deep.
On the other hand, with the win tonight, the Nuggets have won seven of their last eight games. They’re just 1.5 games behind the Celtics for the top seed in the entire league.
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Nikola Jokic surpasses Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson
With his performance against the Celtics tonight, Nikola Jokic recorded the 85th regular season triple-double of his career. It’s the 9th triple-double of the season for the back-to-back MVP. With his effortless passing and dominance in the paint, the Nuggets have been able to get to the top spot in the West.
Tonight also marked the 18th triple-double of Jokic’s career, where he scored more than 30 points. He has now surpassed Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in the category.
He’s tied with Celtics legend Larry Bird. Considering how The Joker has been playing, it won’t take him too long to surpass Larry Legend.
It’s an incredible achievement, and it gets even more admirable when one realizes Jokic is just in his 7th season. The longer he plays, the more records he’d break.
Can Jokic match Larry Bird and win 3 MVPs in a row?
With the way Nikola Jokic has been playing, he’s risen to the 2nd spot in the latest MVP ladder. During this time, the Nuggets have risen to the top spot in the West and aren’t too far behind for the top spot overall.
If Jokic keeps playing the way he has, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be handed the Michael Jordan MVP honors. If he does end up winning it, he will become the first player since Larry Bird to win 3x MVP honors in a row.
