Nuggets’ Duo Makes NBA History With Rare Stat Lines in Victory Over Nets

The Denver Nuggets picked up their 22nd victory of the season on Friday night over the Brooklyn Nets 124-105 thanks mainly to their star duo.

Denver welcomed back Nikola Jokić in the matchup after he missed their prior two games with an illness. Despite still dealing with the illness, he picked up right where he left off.

In the game, Jokić recorded a triple-double with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists. Jokić was not the only Nuggets’ player to record a triple-double as Russell Westbrook also recorded one. Westbrook had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the game as he has continued to thrive in Denver’s starting lineup.

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook

© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

This was the second time this season that both Jokić and Westbrook recorded a triple-double in the same game, but this time they made NBA history. With their performances, Jokić and Westbrook became just the second duo in NBA history to each have a 25 points triple-double. The only other duo to do it was Jokić and Jamal Murray in the 2023 NBA Finals.

This was a special performance from the two MVP winners and one that should excite Nuggets fans. While most are used to Jokić recording crazy stat lines, it is encouraging to see Westbrook produce the way he has even at 36 years old.

Westbrook has also thrived in the Nuggets’ starting lineup and head coach Michael Malone will have a tough decision to make once Aaron Gordon returns from injury. With the amount of success the Nuggets have had with Westbrook starting, they could elect to either keep him in the starting lineup and move Christian Braun to the bench or move Westbrook back to his normal bench role.

Either way, Westbrook has been great this season and the Nuggets have looked like a much better team with him producing the way he has. Denver now sets their eyes on their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday where both Westbrook and Jokić will look to follow up their historic game.