Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic scores 30 in 4th quarter and OT, logs historic triple-double in win

As Nikola Jokic sat at the podium for his postgame news conference, his Denver Nuggets teammate Bones Hyland briefly popped in the room to let his thoughts be known.

«MVP! MVP! MVP!»

The comments came after the reigning MVP put up an excellent case for why he should get another in the Nuggets' 138-130 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jokic finished with 46 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 blocks and 3 steals — numbers no other player has reached in a single game in NBA history since blocks and steals started being tracked in 1973-74. In the fourth quarter and overtime alone, Jokic had 30 points on 10-of-11 shooting.

According to ESPN Stats and Information research, Jokic is the first player in the last 25 seasons to have 30 points or more in the fourth quarter and overtime while also shooting 90% from the field. The last player to shoot that efficiently while putting up that many points in the fourth and overtime? Kobe Bryant who had 33 on 84.6% shooting against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 2007.

Jokic also joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history with a 45-point triple-double on 70% or better shooting.

«Phenomenal. Different. He's just different,» Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said of Jokic's performance. «That's just not something that you see often. He took over, 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, that's just sick. That was just an amazing game. He's an amazing ballplayer.»

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jokic's effort was «just another reason, example, exhibition of why Nikola's the MVP.»

This was the second time the Nuggets and Pelicans went to overtime this season, and it was the second time Jokic dominated the game down the stretch to lift Denver to a victory. He