Nikola Jokic stats tonight: Nuggets superstar records triple-double vs Nets in 1st game back after illness (Jan. 10)
Nikola Jokic made his return on Friday evening as the Denver Nuggets faced the Brooklyn Nets in Colorado. After missing the previous two games due to illness, Jokic quickly made his presence felt, recording a triple-double to help Denver secure a 124-105 victory.
Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and four steals in 38 minutes of play. He achieved his triple-double alongside Russell Westbrook, who started at shooting guard and contributed 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
The pair led the charge for the Nuggets, especially after Jamal Murray went down with an injury, though other players also stepped up.
Michael Porter Jr. chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds, while Christian Braun added 11 points. From the bench, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Below are Nikola Jokic’s complete stats.
For the Nets, Keon Johnson was the top scorer with 22 points, while Tyrese Martin came off the bench to contribute 19. Noah Clowney added 14 points, and Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton, Ben Simmons, and Tosan Evbuomwan each chipped in with 10 points.
Nikola Jokic leads way as Nuggets secure dominant win vs Nets
Nikola Jokic wasted no time making an impact, scoring 14 points in the first quarter, although the Nets managed to outscore the Nuggets 36-32.
In the second quarter, the Nuggets fired on all cylinders, outpacing the Nets 33-23. By halftime, Jokic was already on triple-double watch, with 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals.
Russell Westbrook contributed to the Nuggets' efforts, recording 11 points and seven rebounds, while Julian Strawther added 10 points. Peyton Watson also filled up the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.
Noah Clowney and Keon Johnson led the Nets with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The Nuggets stayed on fire in the second half, outscoring the Nets 29-20 in the third quarter, with Jokic scoring six points in the first two minutes. Westbrook also helped fuel Denver’s offense, providing three assists during the quarter.
The fourth quarter was more of a formality, as the Nuggets maintained their strong offensive play, outscoring Brooklyn 30-26.