In a game that left basketball fans both amazed and conflicted, Jokic topples Magic Johnson to add another feather to his cap. On Thursday, the Denver Nuggets’ superstar surpassed the legendary Johnson to claim third place on the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles list. Jokic recorded his 139th career triple-double, a feat both historic and bittersweet in Denver’s 126-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Nikola Jokic Topples Magic Johnson: Is He the New Face of NBA Triple-Doubles?
The reigning MVP dazzled with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists, but his magic couldn’t shield the Nuggets from a defensive meltdown. The Cavaliers unleashed a barrage of three-pointers, sinking a season-high 22, and left Denver grappling with its identity. Jokic’s brilliance shone, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a team plagued by lapses.
For Jokic, breaking Magic Johnson’s record is a milestone he admits he’ll only fully appreciate after hanging up his sneakers. “Right now, you don’t even think about it,” Jokic said. “But it’s a great thing. It’s really nice.” His modesty, however, doesn’t hide the significance of the achievement—he now trails only Russell Westbrook (200) and Oscar Robertson (181) on the coveted triple-doubles list.
Jokic clinched the record late in the fourth quarter with a pinpoint assist to Michael Porter Jr., who nailed a three-pointer. As the game concluded, Jokic’s humility shone brighter than his stats; he hugged Cleveland players, congratulated coaches, and graciously accepted the game ball in the locker room.
While the world celebrated Jokic’s accomplishment, Denver’s head coach, Michael Malone, wasn’t in a celebratory mood. “We just got our butts kicked,” Malone said bluntly, turning attention to the Nuggets’ defensive struggles. Despite his admiration for Jokic’s talent, Malone made it clear that the team’s identity crisis needs urgent fixing. “It’s not just losing—it’s how we lost, and there’s a big difference.”
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