NBA Game Notes (Jan. 17, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on January 17, 2023.

Jokic Nearly Perfect

Nikola Jokic was nearly perfect last night, compiling 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets topped the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113. The Nuggets have won seven consecutive games overall and 14 straight games at home. They lead the Western Conference by a half-game with a record of 31-13.

Jokic made 13 of his 14 shots from the field (92.9%) and nine of his 10 free throws. It’s just the fourth 30-point triple-double in NBA history in which a player shot at least 90% from the field:

• Wilt Chamberlain (Feb. 17, 1966)

• Chamberlain (Feb. 24, 1967)

• Nikola Jokic (Oct. 20, 2018)

• Jokic (Jan. 17, 2023)

Jokic has made all 19 of his 2-pointers over the last two games. He’s the first player in NBA history to record consecutive triple-doubles without missing a 2-pointer. Jokic is the only player in the NBA’s 3-point era (i.e., since 1979-80) to make at least 19 2-pointers over a two-game span without a miss.

Jokic has recorded at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting 50% from the field in each of his last 27 games, by far the longest such streak in NBA history. Chamberlain ranks second with a streak of 13 such games in a row in February 1967.

The Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard scored a game-high 44 points and dished out a team-high eight assists in the loss. Lillard shot 12-20 from the field — including 6-12 from 3-point range — and made all 14 of his free throws.

Lillard has recorded four straight 35-point games. Over that span, he’s averaging 42.5 PPG and 6.8 APG with shooting percentages of 57.6% from the field, 42.2% from 3-point range, and 96.4% from the free throw line.