Triple-doubles for Nikola Jokic and LeBron James fuel lopsided NBA wins

LOS ANGELES – “The best big man” in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Nikola Jokic, delivered his fourth straight triple-double on Jan 21, a league-leading 19th of the season, to propel the Denver Nuggets to a 144-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Serbian star, who claimed a third NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2024, again made it look effortless, scoring 27 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The 29-year-old centre then sat out the entire fourth quarter at Ball Arena.

“I feel I’m playing the best basketball of my life,” Jokic told broadcaster TNT, although he admitted the Nuggets team he led to the title in 2023 have work to do.

“We’re not where we’re supposed to be. We’re trying to find the rhythm... Tonight, we took care of business.”

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, considered one of the greatest centres in basketball history, said on TNT Sports of the Nuggets star: “Joker no matter what happens is the best big man in the league by far. Period. Nobody else in the conversation.”

Jokic was encouraged by the result against a 76ers team struggling with injuries, most notably to former MVP Joel Embiid.

Six Denver players scored in double figures, including Julian Strawther’s 23 points and 19 from Aaron Gordon – both off the bench.

Said Denver coach Michael Malone: “That’s what you love about Aaron, just the versatility and both ends of the floor. He’s not close to being back to being cleared for full minutes. So we still have time to figure out what is best for our team moving forward.

“But whether Aaron’s out there with starters, with a bench unit, good things are going to happen.”

The Los Angeles Lakers also won big as LeBron James’ ninth triple-double of the season fuelled a 111-88 victory over the woeful Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena.

James scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and 13 assists, and Anthony Davis poured in 29 points with 16 rebounds as the Lakers hammered the league’s worst team (6-36). It was the Wizards’ 11th consecutive defeat as well.

The four-time NBA champion James, who turned 40 on Dec 30, became just the second player at age 40 or older to post a triple-double, after Karl Malone in 2003. It was his 121st career triple-double.

James also earned his 2,308th career steal in the second quarter, passing Scottie Pippen for seventh place in NBA history.

He finished the game with 2,309. Maurice Cheeks is sixth with 2,310.

Over at the Barclays Centre, the New York Knicks held off the Brooklyn Nets, surrendering a 10-point fourth-quarter lead before pulling away late to win the crosstown clash 99-95.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, while O.G. Anunoby added 20 points for the Knicks.

The away side led 85-75 early in the fourth quarter, but the Nets – led by 23 points from D’Angelo Russell – grabbed a 90-89 lead with 2min 35sec remaining.

Jalen Brunson’s pull-up shot restored the Knicks’ lead, and he followed it with a lay-up and a jumper before Anunoby threw down a dunk.

Brunson finally capped the scoring with a pair of free throws.

“We know how special he is. He lives for those moments,” Towns said of Brunson.

The Toronto Raptors dug themselves out of an early 21-point hole to beat the visiting Orlando Magic 109-93 at Scotiabank Arena.

R.J. Barrett scored 19 points and Scottie Barnes added 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Raptors, who outscored the Magic 40-20 in the third quarter to take control.

Paolo Banchero scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Magic, who slumped to a fourth straight defeat.

Portland dispatched the Miami Heat 116-107 at Kaseya Centre, with the 24 points from Anfernee Simons leading the way for the high-energy Trail Blazers, who had seven players score in double figures.

Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 22 points, while rookie Kel’el Ware made his first career start and added 20 points and 15 rebounds. AFP