Nikola Jokic Makes History with Dominant Game 1 Performance
Nikola Jokic delivered a historic outing in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 assists in a playoff game. He now stands alongside basketball icons like Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jokic was the clear standout of the night, putting up 42 points on 15-of-29 shooting, grabbing 22 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists — earning him an efficiency rating of 49.
According to Brett Siegel, this milestone cements Jokic’s place among the greats in NBA postseason history.
Supporting him, Aaron Gordon tallied 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jamal Murray chipped in 21 points, giving the Nuggets a balanced offensive attack.
On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Oklahoma City Thunder with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Alex Caruso added 20 points and 6 assists, but their combined efforts weren’t enough to overcome Denver’s dominance.
