In a stunning reversal of fortune, Nikola Jokić's phenomenal 55-point performance finally translated into a victory for the Denver Nuggets, breaking an unfortunate streak where his previous 50-point outings had all ended in defeat.
Historic Performance Breaks Unwanted Streak
The Serbian superstar tied the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, matching Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who also scored 55 points in October. Jokić's extraordinary effort propelled the Nuggets to a convincing 130-116 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, marking their sixth consecutive win.
The Nuggets had previously lost all four games where Jokić scored 50 or more points, making this breakthrough particularly significant for the team and their three-time MVP. "It's a good feeling," Jokić remarked after the game, understating what amounted to a historic individual performance.
Unprecedented Dominance During Winning Streak
Jokić has been in phenomenal form throughout Denver's six-game winning streak, achieving something no NBA player has ever accomplished. He's the first player in league history to average a 35-point triple-double while shooting 60% or better across a six-game stretch.
Over this dominant period, the centre has been putting up 35.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game while shooting an incredible 73.9% from the field and 55.6% from three-point range. For the entire season, he's averaging 26.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 11.3 assists, leading the league in the latter two categories.
Masterclass in Scoring Efficiency
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Jokić started slowly by his own admission. "I didn't open the game really good," he said. "I think I missed like two, three layups, and after that I felt good." That feeling translated into 25 of Denver's 39 points in the first quarter alone.
After adding eight points in the second quarter, Jokić exploded for 19 points in the third period, including two personal runs of six consecutive points. His final stat line showed remarkable efficiency: 18 for 23 from the field, 5 of 6 on three-pointers, and 14 of 16 from the free-throw line. He finished with six assists, just missing what would have been his league-leading seventh triple-double.
Nuggets coach David Adelman described the performance as "extraordinary" and noted that "that's one of those performances you won't forget." He emphasised how Jokić's preparation translates to game-day success, saying "The way he played today is how he works out when no one is watching. He prepares every day for situations like this."
Jokić revealed that opposing defences have tried everything to contain him, but Denver's strategic play-calling has made it difficult. "I think I saw everything," he said, "but I think it's hard. We are really running a lot of plays for me, all kind of different plays."
The Nuggets built a 16-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and extended it to 22 points early in the period. Coach Adelman defended his decision to bring Jokić back into the game with about six minutes remaining, stating there was "zero disrespect" to the Clippers but emphasising that "he's one of our best ballhandlers, he's a guy that can bleed the clock, he's one of the best players alive. It would be stupid for me not to put my best players back in to make sure we win the game."
