Denver, CO – This night will not be forgotten anytime soon by anyone who saw the Denver Nuggets’ 149-141 win over the Phoenix Suns in overtime Friday night. It was an effort spearheaded by no less than Nikola Jokic, whose record triple-double performance left everyone from casual fans to the most discerning analysts in awe. The game began with the Nuggets appearing to blow the opposition away. Denver built a strong 21-point lead, and Jokic’s first-half dominance was largely to blame. The NBA MVP demonstrated once again why he is regarded as one of the most valuable players in basketball with 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 22 assists as his all-around performance seemed to defy the laws of physics. Jokic’s 22 assists were also a career high, and this remarkable stat line made him the first in NBA history to record a triple-double of 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists in a single game. More usually, though, as so frequently with Phoenix, the Suns would not go quietly into the night. The Suns, with the motivational influence of their high-flying superstar tandem Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, engineered a dramatic turnaround. Booker contributed 34 points, while Durant, who was back from a temporary absence, delivered 29 points, including a game-tying buzzer-beater that equalized the game and pushed it into overtime. It was a miracle run that kept the Ball Arena fans on their feet as the Suns bridged a massive gap to force the game into overtime. The two teams traded baskets in the overtime period, but it soon became apparent that the Nuggets were calling the shots. Denver’s defense shut down and its offense continued to roll through Jokic. The Nuggets got 12-2 against the Suns in the first 2:48 of overtime, a winning streak that would ultimately prove to be decisive in giving the home team the victory. Christian Braun, who had been contributing quietly all night, came out of his shell in overtime, making a clutch three-pointer and making several critical plays in aiding to make the game uncontested. Even if the victory was a collective one, nobody could deny the fact that the hero of the moment was Jokic. Not only was his performance inducted into the books of history, but also a testament to just how vital a role he played for the success of the Nuggets. Denver’s head coach, Michael Malone, barely had enough words to convey just how precious he was to him after the match. “I can’t describe him,” Malone laughed. “He does things on the court that nobody else can do. We’re lucky to have him.”Jokic’s triple-double was not just a matter of statistics. His basketball smarts and ability to set the pace for the game were on full display. His passing, in particular, was divine, as he found teammates effortlessly and made plays that could not be explained. The Nuggets’ offense was led by him, and when the Suns launched their surge in the second half, it was Jokic who kept the vessel steady. It was a blowout victory for the Nuggets, who are establishing themselves as more and more solidified as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. As the playoffs approach on the horizon, Denver is beginning to present itself as a legitimate title contender headed by Jokic and the elite-level play of his supporting cast. It was a bitter pill for the Suns to swallow following such a hard-fought comeback. But the way Booker and Durant performed, clearly a pair to be feared, boasts well for Phoenix as they go about making their playoff push. With his performance, Jokic not only wrote history but also poured more gas into the fire of his potential fourth MVP award. As the season progresses, it is a surety that Jokic is one of the league’s best and a player who can take his team to an NBA title. As Malone said, “When he’s on the floor, anything can happen.” And on Friday night, anything was possible.