The Minnesota Timberwolves’ home crowd had just started to believe that their team could take home another win against the Denver Nuggets in one of the NBA’s newest rivalries. Unfortunately for them, Nikola Jokic picked the Wolves apart in a methodical display of dominance that he made look casual. By the end of the night, Jokic’s stat line didn’t just lead the Nuggets to a win, but etched his name next to basketball royalty.

With his 25 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists on an absurd 90% shooting, Jokic joined the legendary Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to ever log a 25/15/10 triple-double while shooting at least 90% from the field. It wasn’t just an ordinary night for the Joker, but a study in precision. Every post hook over a defender, bounce pass to a cutter, and box out on defense was executed perfectly.

What’s more, Nikola Jokic has now recorded his third consecutive triple-double to start the season- a rare achievement previously only accomplished by his former teammate Russell Westbrook and legend Oscar Robertson. Despite the countless accolades he’s received over the years, Jokic continues to dominate, maintaining the high level of play he’s shown since winning his first MVP. The Denver Nuggets, led by the Joker, show no signs of slowing down, having won two straight games after their only loss to the Warriors.

This wasn’t a one-man show. While Jokic’s efficiency was key, Jamal Murray took over in the second half, dropping a massive 43 points. He was unstoppable in the third quarter, scoring 23 points and leading a 45-29 run that Minnesota couldn’t recover from.

The retooled supporting cast stepped up too. Tim Hardaway Jr. came off the bench to add 20, and Peyton Watson delivered back-to-back dagger threes as a part of a 10-0 run to extend Denver‘s lead to 114-101 late in the fourth.

On the Timberwolves‘ side, Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle each contributed 25 and 24 points, but they couldn’t compensate for Anthony Edwards’ absence. Edwards was sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in the game against the Pacers, leaving the team without a key contributor.

The increased workload on the rest of the roster proved too much to overcome, especially against a well-oiled machine like the Denver Nuggets.

Michael Malone Clears the Air on Nikola Jokic and Coaching

During the offseason, there were whispers of a falling out between Nikola Jokic and former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone. But Malone shut them down for good recently when he spoke about how his bond with Jokic was formed. “My first year in Denver was Nikola’s first year,” he said. “He was a goofy young kid, overweight, out of shape, but terrific personality. Always laughing, always joking… He wanted to be coached; he never resisted coaching.”

The veteran coach didn’t stop there. He admitted that leading superstars like Jokic and LeBron James was a learning experience. “The amount of things I’ve learned from guys like LeBron or Nikola Jokic, I feel really fortunate to have coached them, not because just they’re great players, but also because the way they view the game and some of the things that they may see.”

He also hinted at a possible return to coaching, stating he would “love to get back to coaching.” Malone emphasized he would only consider returning for the right opportunity. However, given his widespread respect across the league and his championship legacy, it might not be long before a front office calls him with the right offer.