Stephen Curry’s 52 Points vs. Grizzlies Overshadowed as Nikola Jokic Records First Ever 60-Point Triple-Double

In the earlier set of games on Tuesday night, Stephen Curry scored 32 first half points and concluded the night with 52. 12 made threes out of 20 attempts. With his performance, Curry became the first player in NBA history to record 50 points, 10 triples, and 5 steals in a game (52 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals). 

For perspective on how good he is shooting the ball, he has had 27 games in his career where he has made at least 10 three-pointers. Klay Thompson is next with 9. He also surpassed Thompson in games with 12 or more threes (4 to 3). All other players in history have totaled 5. 

Curry’s performance (16-for-31 from the field overall) spearheaded a 134-125 Warrior road effort in Memphis. Jimmy Butler was 7-for-11 and 12-for-12 from the line for 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Draymond Green was just 4-for-12 and 1-for-7 from downtown but recorded 13 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. 

For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant (36 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 14-for-22, 5-for-8 from deep) did his best to counter Curry. Jaren Jackson Jr. posted 22 points and 7 rebounds on 7-for-20. Desmond Bane (6-for-15) scored 19 points, Santi Aldama (6-for-11) scored 18 points off the bench. 

The Warriors have won three consecutive games, fifth in the Western Conference at 44-31. The Grizzlies, 44-32, are right behind them. 

Curry’s masterful output in Memphis, one would think, would be the performance of the night. 

Leave it up to the league’s best player Nikola Jokic to upstage him. 

In a exhilarating affair in the Mile High City, the Denver Nuggets lost a double-overtime game to the Minnesota Timberwolves 140-139, as Russell Westbrook fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker on a corner triple with 0.1 seconds left with the Timberwolves down one. Alexander-Walker (26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 8-for-16, 5-for-11) made the first two from the charity stripe before missing the third to run the rest of the clock. 

Spoiled was a historic triple-double as Jokic spoiled fans with 61 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, the highest point output with a triple-double in league history. 

Jokic’s percentages were those of a high-school mathematics guru - 18-for-29 from the field, 6-for-11 from downtown, and 19-for-24 from the line. His aptitude from deep kept the Nuggets in the game, his maneuvering on Julius Randle (Rudy Gobert fouled out late) was a top tier lesson on how to show your skills. Backing down from the 3-point line or from the free-throw line extending, turning for jump shots. Backing down further and turning for easy hooks. 

Complementing Jokic in his 53 minutes was Aaron Gordon’s 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists (9-for-15, 4-for-8) in 47 minutes. Christian Braun matched Jokic in the minutes department and registered 18 points with 12 rebounds on 8-for-14. Braun, an athletic guard, has really upped his game this season. Russell Westbrook off the bench played a decent game despite his late-game blunder. 12 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds on 4-for-11. 

 Leading the Timberwolves’ charge was who else but Anthony Edwards (34 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 12-for-25, 5-for-15, 50 minutes) whose late threes and scores helped send the game into its first overtime. Randle, occupied late with the task of trying to defend Jokic, was 11-for-22 and 4-for-8 from downtown for 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. 

In what might have been the game of the year thus far - the Timberwolves, 44-32, are 7th in the conference, a half game up on the Los Angeles Clippers while the Nuggets are 47-29, a half game up on the Los Angeles Lakers for 3rd - both teams played a fairly even game. The Nuggets shot 55%, the Timberwolves 47%. The Timberwolves shot 38% (19-for-50) from downtown, the Nuggets shot 35% (12-for-34). Rebounds 52-45 in favor of the visitors. 14 turnovers for the Timberwolves, 16 for the Nuggets. 

Despite the loss, Jokic just gets more and more impressive the more you see him. Very few offensive weaknesses. Runs the offense for his team while most of the time being the last guy to touch the ball. A truly unique player who you run out of superlatives to describe. One of the great offensive centers of all-time. 

Around the League

Trail Blazers 127 (33-43)

Hawks 113 (36-39)

Sharpe: 33 PTS, 10 REB (11-for-25 FG, 3-for-10 3PT)

Avdija: 32 PTS, 15 REB, 10 AST (11-for-21 FG, 3-for-8 3PT)

Camara: 18 PTS, 2 STL (8-for-10 FG)

Young: 29 PTS, 15 AST (7-for-20 FG, 3-for-7 3PT)

Daniels: 22 PTS, 10 REB, 3 STL, 2 BLK (11-for-13 FG)

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Knicks 105 (48-27)

76ers 91 (23-53)

Anunoby: 27 PTS, 5 REB (7-for-16 FG, 2-for-9 3PT)

Shamet: 20 PTS (7-for-12 FG, 6-for-11 3PT)

Robinson: 14 PTS, 14 REB, 2 BLK (5-for-9 FG)

Grimes: 26 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB (8-for-18 FG, 1-for-6 3PT)

Council IV: 15 PTS, 5 REB (6-for-13 FG)

Walker: 11 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST (5-for-12 FG)

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Bucks 133 (41-34)

Suns 123 (35-41)

Antetokounmpo: 37 PTS, 11 AST, 5 REB (12-for-18 FG)

Rollins: 23 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST (8-for-10 FG, 5-for-7 3PT)

Lopez: 22 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST (10-for-13 FG)

Booker: 39 PTS, 11 AST (14-for-32 FG, 3-for-11 3PT)

Allen: 23 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST (8-for-17 FG, 6-for-13 3PT)

Gillespie: 18 PTS (6-for-12 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)

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Magic 116 (37-40)

Spurs 105 (31-44)

Banchero: 24 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST (9-for-21 FG)

Wagner: 24 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB (9-for-20 FG, 3-for-10 3PT)

Caldwell-Pope: 23 PTS (8-for-11 FG, 7-for-9 3PT)

Barnes: 24 PTS (9-for-14 FG, 4-for-5 3PT)

Champagnie: 19 PTS, 4 REB (7-for-13 FG, 5-for-9 3PT)

Castle: 16 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST (6-for-13 FG)

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Bulls 137 (34-42)

Raptors 118 (28-48)

White: 28 PTS, 6 AST (10-for-16 FG, 3-for-7 3PT)

Horton-Tucker: 27 PTS, 6 REB (8-for-16 FG)

Vucevic: 22 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST (9-for-12 FG)

Quickley: 17 PTS, 9 AST (7-for-14 FG, 3-for-7 3PT)

Walter: 17 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST (6-for-10 FG, 5-for-5 3PT)

Robinson, Lawson: 13 PTS

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