Jokic plays 'right way' for 4th triple-double

Nikola Jokic bagged his fourth straight triple-double to start the National Basketball Association (NBA) season on Oct 29 to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-88 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Denver star Nikola Jokic fending off New Orleans centre Yves Missi during the Nuggets' 122-88 home victory over the Pelicans on Oct 29. PHOTO: IMAGN IMAGES

(IMAGN IMAGES)

Serbian star Jokic, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, joined Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 and Russell Westbrook in 2020-21 as the only players to open a season with four straight triple-doubles.

He delivered 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter with the game well in hand.

"I'm just trying to play the right way and I hope everything is going to come my way," said Jokic, who with 168 career triple-doubles is third on the all-time list led by Westbrook's 203 and Robertson's 181.

His services were not needed in the final quarter, after a 24-0 third-period run saw the Nuggets extend their lead to as many as 36 points.

"Even in the first half we had like a 15-, 16-point lead, then we blew it," Jokic said. "Then in the second half everything was flowing good for us — offence, defence especially.

"It was a really good third quarter and the goal is to have as much quarters like that in the future."