In the United States you wake up the morning after Nikola Jukic’s show in Denver’s 111: 124 victory over Houston. The Serbian chin finished with a monstrous triple-double, which was his 43rd in the NBA, 9th all-time in the best league in the world.
The Joker played 34 minutes, scoring 19 points, dropping 12 rebounds, and setting a career-high 18 assists, making him the first chin to deliver 18 or more assists in a single game since Wilt Chamberlain delivered 19 of those in 1968.
“We have a good flow as a team,” Jukic explained of how he activated his teammates. “Once you have the ball in your hands and you create situations for others, then it’s easier when you have that flow.”
“That’s how Nicola plays every night,” Denver coach Mike Malone said. “I think he does not care who he plays against, small or large team.”
The Joker equaled the club record for a triple-double with 43, held by Pat Lieber who played in Denver in the 1980s and his jersey has been hanging on the roof of the home court since 2017. “It’s nice and cool to match such a legend of the Nuggets as Lieber,” .
In addition, the Serb became the second ever in NBA history with at least 70 points and 40 assists in the first three games of the season.