Nikola Jokic gets his 18th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets’ win over the Magic

On By Littum

Nikola Jokić recorded his third straight triple-double — and his 18th of the season — in the Denver Nuggets’ 113-100 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Jokić scored 20 points with 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He added three blocks and three steals. The second closest player to Jokić in triple-doubles this season is LeBron James, who has eight for the Los Angeles Lakers.

With 18 triple-doubles, Jokić has collected the fourth-highest season total in that category for his career. He will tie his third-highest season total (set in 2021-22) with his next triple-double. The most that Jokić has registered during his career was 29 in the 2022–23 season. The NBA record for triple-doubles in a season is 42, set by Russell Westbrook (now Jokić’s teammate) in 2016-17.

The Nuggets have 40 games left on their regular season schedule after Sunday’s contest. Westbrook’s mark, which broke a record set by Oscar Robertson that lasted 55 years, is likely out of reach for Jokić. But a new career high in that category this season appears to be within reach.

Christian Braun scored 20 with 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who improved their record to 26-16 and helped maintain the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray added 19, followed by Michael Porter Jr.’s 15. Denver has won six of its last seven games and seven of its last 10.

Sunday’s loss was the third in a row for the Magic, who have lost seven of their last 10 games and dropped to No. 7 in the Eastern Conference standings. Orlando is just a half game behind the Atlanta Hawks and a half game ahead of the Miami Heat.

Wendell Carter Jr. led the Magic with 16 points and 14 rebounds, followed by 14 points off the bench from Anthony Black. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tristan da Silva each scored 12 points.

Denver returns home after its two-game trip in Florida to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. (Unfortunately, there won’t be a Jokić versus Joel Embiid faceoff with the Sixers center sidelined with swelling in his left knee.) Orlando travels to Toronto for a Tuesday game with the Raptors.