Serbian basketball star Nikola Jokić has become only the third player in NBA history to finish a season with double-digit averages in points, rebounds and assists.
The Denver Nuggets star recorded 26 points, 16 rebounds and 13 assists in a 117-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Even if he fails to score in the final regular-season game on Sunday, this personal achievement is now secure. Before him, only Nuggets teammate Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson, who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the 60s and 70s, had accomplished this feat.
Jokić, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is the top favourite for the Most Valuable Player award this season.
The home win solidified the Nuggets' fourth-place position in the Western Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. However, the final standings will only be determined on Sunday at the conclusion of the regular season.
In contrast, the standings in the Eastern Conference are already set. The Bucks secured fifth place ahead of the Detroit Pistons with a 125-119 win over the Pistons, featuring German star Dennis Schröder. Sunday's final matchup between the two teams will no longer affect the table.
Without resting stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, the Orlando Magic achieved a 129-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers, with Tristan Da Silva impressing with 14 points. Orlando finishes the regular season in seventh place and will face the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In tournament.
The Hawks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 124-110. The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference standings, followed by the Boston Celtics in second place.
Despite a 102-108 loss to the Cavaliers, the New York Knicks remain locked in third place, even after suffering three consecutive defeats. The Pacers are in fourth place. The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat occupy ninth and 10th places, respectively, and will face each other in the Play-In tournament.
