Westbrook throws Jokic's 61 points in the trash

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a narrow 140-139 double-overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets, despite the historic performance of Nikola Jokic, who achieved a triple-double with 61 points, the highest in his career and in NBA history for a player with a triple-double. The Serbian, who played for 52 minutes and 38 seconds, also added 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Russell Westbrook, with a couple of plays at the end, stirred things up for the Nuggets.

Denver's coach, Michael Malone, revealed that Jokic asked to stay in the game after the third quarter. "He told me, 'Coach, I'm fine. Let me keep playing.' He was in a great rhythm, obviously: 61 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals. The guy is Superman," Malone remarked. Jokic confirmed that his coach asked him several times if he wanted to rest, but he felt good and chose to stay on the court.

The ending of the game was chaotic. With less than a second on the clock, Nickeil Alexander-Walker made two crucial free throws to seal Minnesota's victory. The sequence before that included a steal by Russell Westbrook, who then missed a layup and fouled Alexander-Walker in the corner. The Timberwolves player converted the first two shots and intentionally missed the third to prevent a final Denver possession. Malone defended Westbrook, stating that the loss was the team's responsibility and not just one player's. Westbrook, on his part, left the arena before the locker room was opened to the media.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Despite only scoring 10 points before the final quarter, he ended with a standout performance and has surpassed 25 points in seven consecutive games against Denver. Jokic praised his display, highlighting that great players know how to elevate their game in crucial moments. Jokic also played a key role in the closing moments of the game, forcing both the overtime with two free throws and the second extra period with a floater in the final seconds.

The match had a playoff-like intensity and featured 21 lead changes. With this win, Minnesota has defeated Denver in six straight games, including postseason matchups. Jokic became only the second player in NBA history to lose a game after recording a triple-double with at least 50 points, joining Wilt Chamberlain in 1963. Additionally, Jokic joins Chamberlain as the only players to have in the same season a game of 60 points, another with 20 rebounds, and one with 20 assists.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Westbrook tira a la basura 61 puntos de Jokic