Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35), right, slides out of bounds as he fouls Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), right, handles the ball as Chicago Bulls center Nick Richards (13) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), right, handles the ball as Chicago Bulls center Nick Richards (13) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) sticks his hands in his jersey during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
CHICAGO | Nikola Jokic got another game ball from his Denver Nuggets teammates after yet another triple-double. This one, though, was a bit more special than the others.
It made some NBA history.
Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for No. 2 on the league’s career list with his 182nd regular-season triple-doubles, leading the Nuggets to a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
“He is a legendary player,” Jokic said of Robertson, who was the first player to average a triple-double in a full season in 1961-62. “Any player who steps into this league knows he’s a global legend.”
The three-time NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star is making his own mark on the game, too. The triple-double was Jokic’s 19th this season and second in as many games. He trails only Russell Westbrook, who has 207, on the career list. Westbrook (four), Jokic (two) and Robertson (one) are the only NBA players to average triple-doubles in a season.
Nuggets coach David Adelman, who had been with the organization since Jokic’s third season in 2017, said he still catches himself being amazed by the 6-foot-11 Serbian center.
“When your center gets 17 assists in a game — that just doesn’t happen,” Adelman said. “Unless it’s him.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable what he’s done.”
Teammate Jamal Murray said he expects even more from Jokic, who’ll turn 31 on Feb. 19.
“He’s got a lot of that left,” he said. “It’s going to be a Usain Bolt record when he sets it. He’s going to have that for a long time.”
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds to pass Oscar Robertson for the second-most triple-doubles in NBA history and the Denver Nuggets ended a three-game skid with a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
It was Jokic’s 182nd regular-season triple-double, 19th this season and second in as many games. He trails only Russell Westbrook, who has 207.
Jamal Murray had 28 points and 11 assists and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points for the Nuggets, who capped a three-game road trip with a win after losing at Detroit and New York.
Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and Collin Sexton added 17 for the Bulls, who have lost four straight.
The Bulls led 104-97 after closing the third period on a 16-2 run, but Denver started the final quarter on a 20-2 spurt to take the lead for good. Jokic and Julian Strawther capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.
Chicago went the first six minutes of the fourth before making its first field goal and finished the final period 5 for 17 from the floor.
Jokic had nine points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 17 first-half minutes, but the Bulls led 65-59 at the intermission.
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