Basketball fans can’t ask for a closing game on this season’s Christmas Day slate, as both the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets went toe-to-toe, with the latter taking a 128-125 overtime home thriller victory.
Nikola Jokic dazzled again for another historic night, polishing 41 markers, 15 boards, and 15 dimes on the nail-biting win that allowed the Nuggets to occupy the sole top place of the Western Conference.
Jokic’s newest triple-double – 83rd in his career – puts him within an elite company that had 40-15-15 combinations in a single game in league history, joining Oscar Robertson (1961, 1962) and James Harden (2016).
“Sick,” Aaron Gordon said of Jokic’s newest feat (H/T Associated Press). “Those are video game numbers.”
Gordon, for his part, churned a robust double-double of 28 points and 13 boards while submitting his early entry for this season’s Dunk of the Year, smashing a coast-to-coast poster dunk over Landry Shamet in less than 30 seconds left in overtime which provided Denver an energizing momentum to snatch the holiday dub in the battle of Western Conference power.
“I don’t know man, maybe a 49,” Gordon said while laughing with regards to his personal assessment of his dunk, per T.J. McBride of SB Nation.
Jamal Murray helped the Nuggets to ice the game with his closing identity, tallying 26 points, five boards, and five assists.
Stepping up in place of Devin Booker, who took a premature exit and only played four minutes, Shamet caught fire and produced 31 points and six assists. Damion Lee also contributed with his 18 markers, with Deandre Ayton posting 22 points and 16 boards on the losing effort.
