NBA: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets escape Nets in overtime

Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15), of Serbia, shoots against Brooklyn Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith (28) and Cam Thomas, left, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

NEW YORK — Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists, becoming only the second player in NBA history to reach those totals in a game, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Brooklyn Nets 144-139 in overtime on Tuesday night in the NBA.

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon each scored 24 points for the Nuggets, while Russell Westbrook added 22.

Dennis Schroder scored 28 points for Brooklyn, which led by 17 in the second quarter. Cam Thomas scored 26 and Cam Johnson had 20. Nic Claxton added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

READ: NBA: Jokic, Nuggets survive Raptors in OT for first win

JOKER BEING JOKER 😳

🃏 29 PTS
🃏 18 REB
🃏 16 AST

Joins Oscar Robertson (2x) as the only players in NBA history to reach this stat line! pic.twitter.com/p9AJPLWH8I

— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2024

Thomas gave the Nets a 127-125 lead with the first basket of overtime, but the Nuggets scored the next eight points and led the rest of the way.

Takeaways

Nuggets: Denver has beaten the Nets four straight times. Jokic has two triple-doubles in the Nuggets’ first four games and has scored at least 40 twice, with neither of those outbursts occurring within the triple-doubles.

Nets: The Nets had season highs of 40 points in the first quarter and 72 points in the first half. They played without Ben Simmons, who missed his first game of the season due to lower back injury management.

READ: NBA: Clippers overcome Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

Key moment

The Nets led by one when Dorian Finney-Smith went to the foul line with 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. He only made one of two, allowing Jokic’s inside bucket to tie the score with 8.8 seconds remaining. Finney-Smith then missed an open 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

Key stat

Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who did it twice, is the only other player to have at least 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists in a game.

Up next

The Nets visit Memphis on Wednesday and the Nuggets head to Minnesota on Friday.