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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 24: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Nikola Jokic and LeBron James have accomplished many feats in their illustrious NBA careers. The Denver Nuggets center and Los Angeles Lakers forward are both NBA champions, MVP award winners, perennial All-Stars, Finals MVPs, and two of the most dominant high-IQ players in basketball history.
However, they recently shared another milestone.
Jokic finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 16 assists in a 125-113 round one game five win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, joining the league’s all-times point career scorer as the only the other player in history to accomplish a rare feat.
“Nikola Jokic has recorded his 20th career 20-point triple-double in the playoffs, joining LeBron James (26 times) as the only two players with at least 20 20-point triple-doubles in NBA playoff history,” according to OptaSTATS.
It was a huge win for the Nuggets and keeps their postseason hopes alive.
“Physicality, focus,” Jokic told reporters after the game. “I have been here before. When you’re playing an elimination game, you need to be extremely focused.”
That mindset has become a defining trait of this Nuggets team, and it’s something head coach David Adelman has come to expect from his superstar in the biggest moments. Particularly during a frustrating and underachieving first round so far.
“Jok is Jok,” Adelman told reporters. “These [small] sample size games and the freakouts when he doesn’t play well. You know he’s going to play well. Then his 16 assists. Assists are hard to get unless you make shots.”
GettyDenver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic still has a lot of admiration for Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James.
Jokic is already one of the best big men in league history, redefining the position and lead the league in a new era of basketball. Since being drafted by the Nuggets in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, Jokic has accomplished nearly every career and individual accolade. Already multiple-time MVP, continues to rake in more hardware.
He led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship while earning Finals MVP honors in 2023, beating the Miami Heat in the finals. Another title would further cement his status as one of the best bigs in NBA history, and one of the faces of this era.
GettyDENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 27: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates as he leaves the court after his team defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 27, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
As the series continues, the Nuggets will look to build off this momentum. While a 20-point triple-double shouldn’t be expected every night, Denver and Jokic will need to pull out all the stops if they hope to extend the series and reach the second round.
Game six goes back to Minnesota where the Timberwolves will have another shot to close out the series.
Alex Shoemaker Alex Shoemaker is a seasoned sports journalist and digital content strategist with more than a decade of experience in newsrooms and digital media. He has covered a wide range of sports, including March Madness, the Olympic Trials, and local high school athletics. He began his journalism career covering high school and community sports, developing a reputation for sharp storytelling and precise design that earned awards for both writing and pagination. More about Alex Shoemaker
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