INDIANAPOLIS — Nikola Jokic had a career-best 19 assists, while adding 18 points and nine rebounds, Aaron Gordon scored 25 points and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 125-116 on Monday night.
According to ESPN Research, Denver's win marked Jokic's 28th career game with at least 15 assists, the most by a non-guard in NBA history. His final total is also tied for second most in a game by any center in the league's history. Only Wilt Chamberlain, according to ESPN Research, has had more, posting 21 assists against the Detroit Pistons back in 1968.
«If you're a player that has no weakness, and there is not one (mark) in that armor, the guy is just an amazing, complete basketball player. And I think the most remarkable thing is not just 19 assists, but the satisfaction and joy that Nikola gets from making his teammates better,» Denver coach Michael Malone said. «And he'd be happy getting 19 assists… and us winning (more) than any other superstar that I've ever come across.»
Denver used a balanced attack to bounce back after the Los Angeles Lakers ended the Nuggets' nine-game winning streak on Saturday, but make no mistake: Jokic was the star of the show.
«He's a humble person and understands that this whole thing is always much bigger than the individual,» Malone said. «It's the collective. But 19?… What is that?… He's just an incredible player. And what a luxury to have when you can just play through him down the stretch of a close game and you know something good is going to happen each and every time.»
Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Christian Braun added 17 points and Jamal Murray scored 16 for Denver.
Myles Turner led Indiana with 23 points. Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points and 15 assists,
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