Nikola Jokic has started the season on a triple-double run, and he will chase another when the Denver Nuggets visit the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
Jokic has six triple-doubles in nine games to follow up on his career-best 34 from last season. The latest came on Saturday night when the Nuggets knocked off the visiting Indiana Pacers 117-100 for their fourth straight victory.
Jokic had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in the stellar effort against Indiana. He made 10 of 14 shots from the field – including one 3-pointer – and sank 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
“I think we should be talking about the efficiency numbers,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said afterward. “He’s the most efficient basketball player I’ve ever seen. And I know there’s guys way back in the past I didn’t get to see play, but for me, in this modern generation of basketball, please show me who else is out there that plays like this at this efficient level offensively.
“It’s a joy to watch, and by the way, he did all that in 31 minutes. I’ll keep saying, just enjoy this. You know, while you get to have it.”
Jokic, a three-time league MVP, is averaging 25.2 points per game. He leads the NBA in assists at 11.9 per game and is second in rebounding (13.0).
One of the games in which Jokic didn’t record a triple-double came in a 130-124 home victory over the Kings on Nov. 3. He had 34 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds.
Denver beat the Pacers without the services of Jamal Murray (calf) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring). It was the first missed game of the season for both players.
Murray’s calf has been tight for approximately a week, while Gordon became concerned after Friday night’s 129-104 rout of the visiting Golden State Warriors.
“If he feels something that can turn into something worse, there is a little bit of apprehension,” Adelman said of Gordon. “Aaron’s a guy we have to protect … because there’s just not that many human beings that are that big and jump that high and explode like that.”
The contest in Sacramento is the first of a three-game road trip for the Nuggets.
Meanwhile, the Kings are 1-2 entering the fourth contest of a five-game homestand.
Sacramento was mauled 144-117 by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. The Kings trailed by as many as 32 points while falling for the third time in four games.
“It’s really about the defense,” Kings coach Doug Christie said. “If you don’t get stops in our league, you don’t win. Period. That’s just the way that it is.”
Star big man Domantas Sabonis (ribcage contusion), the league’s top rebounder at 14.0 per game, was back after missing two games and put up 20 points and 13 boards.
Sabonis told reporters his breathing has been compromised and that he has felt “sharp stab” sensations in the ribs. Still, he was able to play 30 minutes while laboring through the contest and made just 5 of 17 shots.
“You don’t want to keep losing games,” Sabonis said. “I love the game and we’re not winning, so you want to try to turn things around.”
Sacramento has lost seven of its first 10 games to dig itself a hole in the highly competitive Western Conference.
