Cnn
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Even according to absurdly high standards of Nikola Jokić, his performance on Tuesday evening was something special.
The Triple MVP of the NBA collected 61 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but that was not enough to prevent the Denver Nuggets from losing 140-139 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a double classic in overtime.
Jokic’s 61 points are the most marked in a triple-double in the history of the NBA and mark a new career summit, while it is also the most points that a player has scored in a match this season.
The Serbian star also only became the second player in the history of the NBA after Wilt Chamberlain in 1963 to lose a match during the publication of at least 50 points in a triple-double, by ESPN.
This is not even the first time that Jokić has recorded a historic triple-double in the last month, after having published the first triple-double 30-20-20 in the history of the League against the Phoenix Suns in early March.
After the match, Nugget coach Michael Malone called Jokić “Superman”.
A wild final in the competition ended with Nickeil Alexander-Walker struck two free throws to seal the victory for Minnesota.
Moments earlier, Russell Westbrook had stolen the ball for Denver, but then missed an open lay-up. Westbrook then defeated Alexander-Walker on a three-point attempt at the other end while the game clock expires, giving goalkeeper Timberwolves three free throws to win the match.
Alexander-Walker achieved the first two, then deliberately missed the third to ensure that the clock expired again with only 0.2 seconds remaining.
“I feel horrible for him,” said Malone about Westbrook. “When you have made this kind of effort, you put so many things and you don’t get the result, I just feel bad for our guys.
“This is never limited to who deserves to win, but our guys have done everything in their power to win this match and it did not go in our direction.
“We just have to group together and find a way to get one tomorrow evening.”
Jokić’s record night also underlined his MVP references and again underlined the frequent lack of help which he endures on a coherent basis. Although the star of his compatriots Nuggets Aaron Gordon added 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the night in the losing effort.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored a 34-point summit to go with 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Julius Randle and Alexander-Walker have collected 26 points each while six Minnesota players hit the double figures.
The Timberwolves have now won three consecutive games to climb to the head of the Western Conference while trying to avoid the game, while the Nuggets remain the seeder n ° 3.
Steph Curry prepared a vintage performance on Tuesday, lowering 52 points while the Golden State Warriors beat the Grizzlies of Memphis 134-125.
The 37 -year -old hit 12 three points in the competition. This is the 15th game of 50 points in Curry’s career, tied in sixth row with Damian Lillard.
Curry’s last line was 52 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, five interceptions and a block, and he exceeded Jerry West to go to 25th in the list of all time in the NBA.
“Fifty-two points with people draped all over him, throughout the match,” said Kerr, by ESPN. “I have been looking at this for 11 years, and in fact longer before becoming his coach.
“You have a real sense of the magnitude of his talent. The guy is incredible to watch.”
Jimmy Butler added 27 points, six rebounds, four assists and three interceptions for the Warriors, who won three games in a row and jumped in front of the Grizzlies in the head of N ° 5 in the West.
JA MORANT collected a summit of 36 points for Memphis, whose shift in the classification continues with a fourth consecutive defeat.
Away @ home (fat winners)
Phoenix Suns 123-133 Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers 91-105 New York Knicks
Portland Trail Blazers 127-113 Atlanta Hawks
Golden State Warriors 134-125 Memphis Grizzlies
Toronto Raptors 118-137 Chicago Bulls
Orlando Magic 116-105 San Antonio Spurs
Minnesota Timberwolves 140-139 (2ot) Denver Nuggets