On a night when the Denver Nuggets could’ve used every ounce of Nikola Jokic’s brilliance, all the two-time MVP could do was watch from the sidelines. And as fate would have it, he had a front-row seat-figuratively, at least-for Luka Doncic’s latest bit of basketball history.
With Jokic sidelined due to a knee injury, Doncic took center stage and delivered another signature performance, this time against the reigning champs. The Dallas guard notched his 52nd career 30-point triple-double, officially passing Jokic (51) on the all-time list for that statistical milestone. Only one name sits above them now: Oscar Robertson, the gold standard of all-around dominance, with 106.
What makes Doncic’s climb even more impressive is the pace. He’s hit this mark in just 483 regular-season games.
Jokic needed 777 to get to 51. Robertson?
He played 1,040. That’s not just elite company-it’s rare air.
On Tuesday night, Doncic made sure his latest triple-double wasn’t just a stat-padding effort. He was the engine behind the Lakers’ 38-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist win over Denver.
Efficient and relentless, he shot 12-of-21 from the field, knocked down three triples, and went 11-of-12 from the line. He even chipped in two steals for good measure.
This wasn’t just Luka Magic-it was Luka Control. He dictated the tempo, carved up the Nuggets’ defense, and reminded everyone why he’s one of the most unguardable players in the league.
The Lakers, now 26-16, are starting to find rhythm, and performances like this from Doncic are a big reason why. On the flip side, Denver drops to 29-15 and will be eager to get Jokic back in uniform. As good as the Nuggets are, there’s no replacing the Joker’s impact on both ends of the floor.
But Tuesday night belonged to Doncic. With Jokic watching from afar, Luka didn’t just pass him in the record books-he did it in style, with a performance that felt like a statement.
The race for triple-double supremacy isn’t over, not by a long shot. But for now, Doncic has the edge.
And he’s not slowing down.