DENVER (AP) 鈥� Michael Malone called him Superman. At the moment, Nikola Jokic鈥檚 just super-tired.
The Denver Nuggets big man can't wait to get some sleep after a career-best 61-point performance in which he played nearly 53 minutes. He didn't leave the court after halftime of a double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
His scoring spree was the most by a player in the NBA this season. Jokic also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, notching the third 60-point triple-double in NBA history. Luka Doncic did it on Dec. 27, 2022 and James Harden did it on Jan. 30, 2018.
鈥淭he guy鈥檚 Superman,鈥� Nuggets coach Malone said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 on a whole other level, man. People say he鈥檚 not athletic, but not many guys can do what he does."
Jokic's previous career best was 56 points in a loss at Washington on Dec. 7. The franchise mark is held by David Thompson, who had 73 points at Detroit on April 9, 1978.
On Tuesday, Jokic attempted 24 free throws 鈥� making 19 鈥� to match the team mark held by Carmelo Anthony. For all his exploits, Jokic had just one over-riding emotion: 鈥淭ired,鈥� he said. "It was an exhausting game.鈥�
Anthony Edwards gave the three-time NBA MVP major props. Jokic's in a heated race for another MVP award with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
鈥淣ikola Jokic, he might be the best basketball player that I have ever seen close up, besides myself,鈥� cracked Edwards, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds. "He is incredible. The MVP race is tough. I don鈥檛 know. He had 60. That is crazy.鈥�
Of course, this game 鈥� a sixth straight loss to Minnesota, including playoffs 鈥� will be remembered by Nuggets fans for Jokic's exploits on the court. But it will also be remembered for a wild finish.
Leading 139-138 with around 14 seconds left, Russell Westbrook stole the ball and dished it over to Christian Braun who then sent it right back to Westbrook for a layup. But Westbrook's layup clanked off the rim and started a break the other way.
Westbrook ran down the court and fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the corner with 0.1 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves guard hit two of three free throws to steal the victory.
鈥淥bviously, I feel awful for Russ,鈥� Malone said. "That last play we get the turnover, we don鈥檛 convert, and then the foul. It was not from a lack of effort or care.
"Sometimes it goes like that, and that鈥檚 why we've just got to be strong. We've got to be resilient."
The big question: Should the Nuggets have not attempted the layup and pulled the ball back out to run down the clock?
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough. You've got a two-on-one break,鈥� Malone said. "As a coach, am I up on the sideline yelling, 鈥楧on鈥檛 go?鈥� We鈥檝e got a layup. But it鈥檚 easy to say that (pull the ball out) in hindsight, because we missed a layup. ... He (Westbrook) is a tough kid, and I think he knows that everybody in that locker room鈥檚 got his back."
For Jokic, there's not much time for rest. The Nuggets play Wednesday night against San Antonio. All he said he needs was a little break.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e so used to this,鈥� Jokic said. 鈥淭omorrow, I鈥檓 not going to remember I played so many minutes.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Pat Graham, The Associated Press
