Nikola Jokic Reaches 200 Triple-Doubles, And Only One Man Is Still Ahead Of Him

Nikola Jokic in his Denver Nuggets jersey© Instagram/ @jokicnikolaofficial

Nikola Jokic has done it again, and this time the number is a big one. The Nuggets star recorded the 200th triple-double of his career on Wednesday night, finishing with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 104-91 win over the Pelicans. Only Russell Westbrook has more. Jokic got there in 811 games, nearly 500 fewer than Westbrook needed, and he's closing in on the all-time record fast.

Jokic and the 200 club

He shot 8 of 13 and didn't miss a free throw, going 5 for 5. It was his second triple-double of the year. Westbrook retired in August with 209, which leaves Jokic nine shy of tying him and 10 from passing him. Considering he had 34 of them last season alone, it looks like a matter of time.

There's a small twist in how this club works. Westbrook hit his own 200th while he was playing for Denver, which made him Jokic's teammate at the time. He took the record from Oscar Robertson in 2021, when Robertson sat at 181. Now the guy who shared a locker room with him is the one chasing him down.

Jokic is also well clear of the rest of the league. LeBron James is the only other active player past 100, sitting at 125, which is fifth on the all-time list. Magic Johnson finished with 138, so Jokic passed him a while back.

The early numbers say he isn't slowing down. Jokic is averaging 22 points, 10.5 rebounds and nine assists through four games, and he already has two triple-doubles. The real question is how long he sticks around once he owns the record.

How the Nuggets pulled away

Denver never trailed. Jamal Murray hit his first three shots, all from deep, and the Nuggets shot 62 percent in the first quarter to lead 37-18. Marvin Bagley's runner pushed it to 44-22, the biggest gap of the night.

It got messier after that. Denver coughed it up 18 times, and New Orleans trimmed the lead to five in the fourth. Zion Williamson, who led all scorers with 25, hit a three that made it 88-83. Murray answered right away with a three of his own and a driving finger roll. The Pelicans hit just 7 of 30 from deep, and Derik Queen's 11 points and 12 boards weren't enough. New Orleans is 0-4 under first-year coach Jamahl Mosley.

Murray ended with 23 points and 11 assists. Aaron Gordon added 15 points and 11 rebounds, his first double-double of the season, and Christian Braun knocked down three late threes on his way to 15. Rookie Trevon Brazile started for the first time and gave Denver 11 points.

The Nuggets played without Cam Johnson (ankle) and Alpha Diallo (sprained wrist), and Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones are still out too. That left Denver with just nine men, and they held together anyway after Monday's loss to Golden State.

They're 2-2 now, and this was their first road win of the season. Phoenix is next, in an NBA Cup opener on Friday.