Nikola Jokić records the third triple-double of 60 NBA points… and loses | Nikola Jokić

Michael Malone called him Superman. For the moment, Nikola Jokić is simply super tired.

Denver Nuggets star gathered a better performance of 61 career points in which he played almost 53 minutes. He did not leave the court after the half-time of a 140-139 defeat in double extension against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday evening.

His series of scores was the biggest by an NBA player this season. Jokić also succeeded in 10 rebounds and 10 assists, stopping only the third triple-double of 60 points in the history of the NBA. The others to do so were Luka Dončić in December 2022 and James Harden in January 2018.

“The guy’s superman,” said Nuggets coach Malone. “He is at a completely different level, man. People say he is not athletic, but few guys can do what he does.”

On Tuesday, Jokić attempted 24 free throws – by doing 19 – to match the team brand held by Carmelo Anthony. For all his exploits, Jokic had only one excessive emotion: “tired”, he said. “It was an exhausting game.”

Anthony Edwards gave major accessories from the NBA MVP three times. Jokić is in a heated MVP race with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City. Jokić won the award last season.

“Nikola Jokić, he could be the best basketball player I have ever seen closely, except myself,” joked Edwards, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds. “It is incredible. The MVP race is difficult. I don’t know. He was 60. It’s crazy.”

This game – a sixth consecutive defeat for Denver in Minnesota, including the playoffs – will remain in the nugget fans for Jokić’s exploits on the ground. But it will also remain in the memories for a wild final.

Living 139-138 with about 14 seconds to play, Russell Westbrook stole the ball and gave it to Christian Braun who then sent him back to Westbrook for a lay-up. But Westbrook’s lay-up slammed the edge and started a break in the other direction. Westbrook ran on the field and defeated Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the area with 0.1 seconds remaining. Goalkeeper Timberwolves struck two of the three free throws to steal the victory.

“Obviously, I feel horrible for Russ,” said Malone. “This last game, we obtain the turnover, we do not convert, then the fault. It was not by a lack of effort or care. Sometimes, it goes like that, and that is why we must just be strong. We must be resilient.”

Would the big question: should the nuggets had to remove the ball to run time instead of trying the lay-up?

“It’s difficult. You have a pause two to one,” said Malone. “As a coach, am I on the screaming touch:” Don’t go? ” We have a lay-up.

For Jokić, there is not much time to rest. Nuggets play Wednesday evening against San Antonio.

“I think we are so used to that,” said Jokić. “Tomorrow, I will not remember that I have played so many minutes.”

Jokić was not the only MVP to organize an impressive performance on Tuesday evening. Stephen Curry scored 52 points, including 12 three points, while the Golden State Warriors beat the Grizzlies of Memphis 134-125.