Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and point guard Russell Westbrook recorded triple-doubles in the same game on Friday for the second time this season, leading the team to a victory over the shorthanded Nets.
As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes, the duo made NBA history by become the first pair of teammates to have 25-point triple-doubles in the same regular season game. Jokic put up 35 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds, while Westbrook contributed 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
“(Jokic) does a hell of a job making the game easy for everyone,” Westbrook said. “And since I’ve been here, I’ve been trying to do the same thing and find ways to be able to make the game easy for him and other guys. When we’re both doing that, our team is really good.”
Denver is 10-5 this season when Jokic registers a triple-double and 3-0 when Westbrook does so.
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- Westbrook has been an ideal fit so far in Denver, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who suggests that both the point guard and the team are benefiting from the arrangement — the Nuggets got a veteran leader who can take some pressure off of Jokic with his ball-handling and play-making, while Westbrook got a chance to play more like himself under a coach who believes in him. “I told him that I wanted him to challenge himself to be the best version of himself,” head coach Michael Malone said. “No offense to any of his past coaches, but if you put Russell Westbrook in the corner, you’re not getting the whole package. We’ve made an effort to get the ball into his hands quite a bit this season.”
- Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon appears to be on the verge of returning from the calf strain he aggravated on Christmas Day. After being upgraded to doubtful for Friday’s game, Gordon has been listed as questionable to suit up on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.
- Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. is having arguably the best season of his career, with averages of 19.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on .521/.415/.708 shooting through 37 contests (34.5 MPG). With that in mind, Durando explores in a Denver Post story (subscription required) whether trading Porter would help or hurt the club’s roster. The 26-year-old, who is earning $35.9MM this season, is considered Denver’s most logical trade chip if the team makes a bigger in-season deal, since the other Nuggets with eight-figure cap hits – Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gordon – aren’t going anywhere.
- Friday’s game between the Nets and Nuggets was the first time that former Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez returned to Denver to face his old team as a head coach. As Durando details for The Denver Post, Fernandez said that every year he spent with the Nuggets helped prepare him for his current position with Brooklyn, and his former players are happy to see him succeeding in his new role. “I think he’s doing a good job. I think guys are listening. Guys are playing hard for him,” Jokic said. “I think that’s really important for a coach. … They are trying to do the right thing. They are trying to do what he is probably telling them. So they have some kind of system, and it’s really cool to see. They’re in the beginning of the process, of course. Hopefully, they can grow.”
Of all the contending teams in the west the Nuggets are most likely to make a big impact at trade deadline. They have draft picks to get a deal done.
Porter, Nnaji, and unprotected first for Lavine?
Ik the bulls didn’t want to take nnajis contract before but maybe if they get a pick
Nuggets-Butler
Heat-Cam Johnson, Bogdanovic
Nets-Porter Jr, Nnaji. Insert picks.
Worked on trade machine if Nuggets used the near $5 mil trade exemption.
Not saying it’s happening but is possible. Would also work for Lavine in place of Jimmy as would yours. Lavine would be good for Nuggets in my opinion. More Bruan and Watson at the 3.
Denver’s only tradable first is in 2031. Memphis seems more likely. They have more picks and tradable salaries.
memphis is another team that could use a big man and move Jackson to PF. They don’t have a lot of holes. Once some injured players get back they should be good to go.
The further the draft pick, the more valuable it becomes. Denver will continue to be very very good as long as they have Jokic.
MPJ is a good fit for the Nuggets, his contract isnt that bad as well. If I was them I would keep him unless a really good offer came up like KD or Booker.
If they were getting Booker that would involve Murray not MPJ. They would be too small to play Murray, Russ, & Booker. I don’t think they would have enough in a trade to beat Houston, SAS, or Nets with picks. Either way those kind of trades midseason seem to kill any chance of winning a chemistry is never there.
If you’re in a situation where you’re becoming somewhat dependent on what Russell Westbrook brings, your team is up _____ creek.
I’ve been a huge critic of Westbrook over the years, but even I have to admit, he’s doing great things in Denver. They desperately needed a true playmaker to take the pressure off Jokic (instead of having Murray be something he’s not), and Westbrook is filling that slot really well.
Just don’t let him shoot too many 3’s.
Why do you post every time someone mentions Westbrook?
We get it, you don’t like his game. You can move on now.
The main issue with MPJ is that’s he’s making way too much money for Denver to have depth. Trading for Lavine doesn’t solve that. These two players are also very much alike in terms of ego and lack of teamplay-ability.
If the nugs can move MPJ for a couple of solid players then they would marginally improve this season. If they can move him for cap space then they’ll probably improve next season, depending on who’s becoming a free agent. I’m assuming Jimmy Butler doesn’t wanna live in Denver lol
For the Vet min, Russ could be a good fit on any team.