Advertisement

Nikola Jokić becomes first player to post 30-20-10 game in NBA Finals history

Nikola Jokić is doing things in the NBA playoffs nobody has ever done. That continued in Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat.

The two-time MVP became the first player in NBA history to finish a Finals game with at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, finishing Wednesday's game with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting, 21 rebounds (3 offensive), 10 assists and 2 blocks in a 109-94 Nuggets win. Once again, Jokić was a driving force in a victory that put the Nuggets two wins away from their first NBA championship.

"To be honest, not much," Jokić said, when asked how much the stat meant to him in his postgame interview. "I'm just glad we won a game."

It was also only the fifth time a player had posted a 30-20-10 game in the playoffs at all. The other four games belong to the incredible club of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Jokić (twice).

Jokić's Nuggets teammate Jamal Murray also chipped in a 30-point triple-double with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

It's not surprising that Jokić is the only player capable of such a stat line over the last few decades of the playoffs. No big man has ever brought a passing game like his to the floor, and he has feasted on the boards for the entire season. He posted two 30-20-10 games in the regular season, as well.

Jokić entered Wednesday averaging 30.4 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game on 54.5% shooting (46.9% from deep). All of those numbers, save the field-goal percentage, are improvements on a regular season campaign that saw Jokić finish second in the MVP voting to Joel Embiid.

Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets drives the lane during the first quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center on June 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokić is ridiculous. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Jokić has already won the Western Conference finals MVP award. If the Nuggets finish this off, there's little doubt he'll be hoisting his first NBA Finals MVP trophy, as well.