Nikola Jokic registers 1st 30-20-10 triple-double in NBA Finals history

Nikola Jokic is averaging a 30-point triple-double in the playoffs: 30.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists.

There’s no stopping Nikola Jokic this postseason.

In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Jokic became the first player in NBA history to record 30+ points, 20+ rebounds and 10+ assists in a Finals game.

Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Denver Nuggets past the Miami Heat 109-94 to give Denver a 2-1 series lead.

Asked how much statistical feat meant to him, the two-time MVP gave the perfect Jokic answer: “To be honest, not much. I’m just glad that we won the game.”

It was his 10th triple-double of these playoffs, extending his single-season record.

Jokic is also responsible for three of the five 30-20-10 playoff games ever, with two of those coming this postseason. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970) and Wilt Chamberlain (1967) each have one.

More triple-double history was made in when Jamal Murray grabbed his 10th rebound with nine seconds left in the game. Murray finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, which makes Jokic and Murray the first teammates in NBA history (regular season or playoffs) to log 30-point triple-doubles in the same game.

“By far, their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, after his team moved two wins away from Denver’s first title.