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Nikola Jokić Scores Career-best 61 Points In Double-overtime Loss To Wolves

Nikola Jokić finishes with an NBA season-high 61 points along with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to the Timberwolves.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić proved once again why he's a leading candidate for this season's Kia MVP award Tuesday night, pouring in a career-high 61 points. It was the most points scored by a player this season. Jokić battled through 53 minutes on the court in a 140-139 double-overtime loss to the Timberwolves.

Jokić also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go with his 61 points, notching the highest triple-double in NBA history. Luka Doncic (Dec. 27, 2022) and James Harden (Jan. 30, 2018) each had 60-point triple-doubles.

Already having a historic season in 2024-25, Jokić is on pace to be the first player in NBA history to finish top 3 in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals.

It was a historic night across the league. Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored 52 points with 12 3-pointers to pass Jerry West for 25th on the NBA all-time scoring list.

Jokić's previous career best was 56 points in a loss at Washington on Dec. 7. The franchise mark is held by David Thompson, who had 73 points at Detroit on April 9, 1978.

"The guy's Superman," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "He's on a whole other level, man. People say he's not athletic, but not many guys can do what he does."

Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards gave the three-time Kia MVP major props after the game.

"Nikola Jokić, he might be the best basketball player that I have ever seen close up, besides myself," cracked Edwards, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds. "He is incredible. The MVP race is tough. I don't know. He had 60. That is crazy."

Of course, this game — a sixth straight loss to Minnesota, including playoffs — will be remembered by Nuggets fans for Jokic's exploits on the court, but also the disappointing finish. The final play concluded a wild sequence as Russell Westbrook stole the ball on one end in the closing seconds, missed a layup and then fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the corner. The Timberwolves guard made two free throws and missed the third one on purpose.

The Nuggets are currently No. 3 in the Western Conference standings, two games behind the No. 2 Rockets with six games remaining in regular-season play.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kentucky Contacts College Basketball's Leading Scorer From Last Season

Kentucky is continuing to make waves in the transfer portal. As the list keeps growing, Mark Pope and the staff reached out to Jacksonville State transfer guard Jaron Pierre according to Tristan Pharis of KY Insider. As the nation's leading scorer with 777 total points last season, Pierre is definitely someone Pope wasn't looking to pass on.

Last season with the Gamecocks, the 6-5 guard averaged 21.6 points, which ranked fourth in the nation, along with 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists, shooting 42.4 percent overall and 38.2 percent from three-point range. You could say he is arguably the best scorer in college basketball, but he did back that up by leading the nation in points scored.

Before his stint with Jacksonville State, Pierre also played at Southern Miss for two years before transferring to Wichita State and then to the Gamecocks. When looking at his numbers from last season, it's clear as to why Pierre scored the most points of anyone last season, scoring double-digits in every game but one, including 12 20-point games. His highest-scoring game was against Middle Tennessee, where he had a 36-point outing on 10-16 shooting from deep. A very impressive scorer who would no doubt shine in Mark Pope's offense. For how much he shoots it, at 9 three-point attempts per game, shooting the ball at a 38 percent clip is pretty efficient.

Mark Pope would certainly welcome a dangerous scorer and impressive shooter to the roster next season. We'll see soon if a visit is on the docket for Pierre.

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