Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets tried his hardest on Tuesday evening, however his group was nonetheless taken down by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The loss hurts, however no less than Jokic made historical past throughout Recreation 5.
Based on NBA.com/Stats, Jokic grew to become simply the eighth participant in league historical past to report 40+ factors and 15+ rebounds a number of occasions throughout a single postseason.
He joins the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Bob McAdoo.
Nikola Jokić turns into the eighth participant in NBA historical past to report 40+ factors and 15+ rebounds a number of occasions in a single postseason collection becoming a member of…
Wilt Chamberlain (4x)
Shaquille O’Neal (2x)
Elgin Baylor (2x)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Hakeem Olajuwon
Charles Barkley
Bob McAdoo pic.twitter.com/M1QwcaYVUk— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) Might 14, 2025
On Tuesday, it was 44 factors and 15 rebounds for Jokic, together with 5 assists and two steals.
This was an incredible exhibiting by Jokic and significantly better than what he was doing simply days earlier than.
Consider it or not, Jokic was in a stoop earlier than this sport.
His discipline aim share was weak, and he was performing extra turnovers than assists.
He seemed way more like his common self throughout Tuesday’s sport, and Nuggets followers are hoping he retains it that approach.
Jokic’s greatness has by no means been in query, even throughout his few subpar video games.
He’s nonetheless thought-about probably the greatest basketball gamers alive, and he usually has the power to hold the group on his again.
He did that a number of occasions all through the common season, however the playoffs have offered just a few challenges.
Currently, the Nuggets have seemed extra cohesive, which has given followers hope, however everybody believes they want a powerful Jokic if they need any probability of a title.
Jokic has now made NBA historical past but once more, which is certainly an incredible factor.
However all NBA followers know that Jokic doesn’t care about that.
As a substitute, he desires one other championship, and, proper now, it’s not clear if that’s potential.
NEXT: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals Expectations For Nuggets In Recreation 6