Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic is nine rebounds away from becoming the first player in NBA history to record 500 points, 250 rebounds and 100 assists in a single postseason. Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals starts tonight at 8:30 PM ET.
In Denver’s 109-94 win over the Miami Heat in Game 3, the five-star All-Star recorded 32 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists and two blocks in 44 minutes of action. He also shot 12-of-21 (57.1%) from the floor and 7-of-8 (87.5%) at the foul line.
Based on a few NBA betting sites, the Nuggets remain the favorite to win the 2023 NBA Finals. Sportsbooks show Nikola Jokic has the best odds of winning the Finals MVP award. Miami forward Jimmy Butler has the second shortest prospect.
The Nuggets & Heat meet in Game 4 on Friday.
Nikola Jokic needs 9 rebounds to become the first player in NBA history with 500 points, 250 rebounds and 150 assists in the post-season. pic.twitter.com/zaUaQoPPNa
– ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 9, 2023
In Game 3, the two-time MVP also became the fifth player to score 100 or more points over their first three NBA Finals games, joining Rick Barry (122 in 1997), Allen Iverson (106 in 2001), and Willis Reed (104 in 2001). in 2001) in 1970), and Giannis Antitekounmo (103 in 2021).
Jokic is the seventh player in NBA history to record a triple-double in the same Finals. Magic Johnson and LeBron James each hit at least two hat-tricks in three separate Finals. Draymond Green, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Butler each have had one Finals series with two triple-doubles.
Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic hit the first 30-20-10 triple-double in NBA Finals history in Wednesday night’s 109-94 win over the Heat.
Moreover, the Nuggets scored 48 more points than the Heat, the most over three Finals games since Shaquille O’Neal was in the key in 2001. In Game Three, Denver outscored Miami 60-34 in the paint. The Nuggets shot 41-of-80 (51.2%) from the field in the bowl position.
Of course, Game 3 was Jokic’s third career 30-20-10 career of any kind. There have only been two other 30-20-10 games in NBA postseason history (one each for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain), according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Jokic scored his 10th triple-double of the 2023 NBA Playoffs in Game 3. More importantly, the eight-year-old veteran cares more about winning his first championship than about stats.
“I don’t care. It’s just a statistic.” 😅
Nikola Jokic in his 30-20-10 performance in Game 3 pic.twitter.com/6sE6kChhWb
– NBA TV (NBATV) June 8, 2023
“I don’t care,” he replied when asked how he felt about setting a new NBA record. “I’m glad we won the game. It was a big event for us because they won in our arena. We just don’t want to go down 2-1.”
Through 18 starts this postseason, Nikola Jokic averages 30.5 points, 13.4 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 39.4 minutes per game. The two-time MVP shoots 54.6% from the floor and 47% from 3-point range.