NBA Game Notes (Feb. 2, 2024)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on February 2, 2024.

Jokic Powers Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic recorded his 120th career triple-double, compiling team highs of 27 points, 22 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 120-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Nuggets improved to 34-16 with the win, just a half-game behind the Western-Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jokic now has six career games in which he’s recorded at least 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, tying Elgin Baylor for the third-most such games in NBA history. The only players with more such games are Wilt Chamberlain (24) and Oscar Robertson (eight).

It’s the 161st game in which Jokic has led his team — either outright or tied — in points, rebounds, and assists. The only player in NBA history with more such games is LeBron James with 232.

Jokic made 11 of his 16 shots from the floor, a field goal percentage of 68.8%. In his 17 games since going 4-12 from the field on Christmas Day, Jokic is averaging 26.2 PPG with 69/52/82 shooting splits.

Jokic has recorded at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in each of his last 11 games, the longest such streak in franchise history and tied for the third-longest single-season streak since the ABA-NBA merger. He’s shot at least 50% from the field in all but one of those games.

Jokic has an NBA-leading 15 triple-doubles this season. He’s recorded at least 15 triple-doubles in each of his last four seasons, tied with Russell Westbrook for the second-longest such streak in NBA history. The record of five such seasons in a row is held by Oscar Robertson (1960-61 to 1964-65).

The Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon lent support with 18 points (7-9 field goals) and five assists, while Jamal Murray fell one rebound shy of a triple-double, tallying 13 points, 10 assists, and nine boards. However, Murray made just five of his 21 field goal attempts, including a 3-15 performance from 3-point range. He set a franchise record for most 3-pointers missed in a game, surpassing the previous mark of 11 shared by three players.

Trail Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson came off the bench to score a game-high 30 points, going 8-15 from the field and 11-12 from the free throw line. He’s just the second rookie in franchise history to record a 30-point game coming off the bench, joining Geoff Petrie on Oct. 24, 1970.

Portland’s Anfernee Simons bagged 29 points, shooting 11-23 from the floor with four 3-pointers made. Fellow starting guard Malcolm Brogdon added 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, and was not charged with a turnover in 36 minutes played.