Nikola Jokic should have been credited with triple-double versus Rockets

Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic recorded 12 points, 19 rebounds, and 9 assists according to the official NBA box score in Denver’s 110-104 loss in Houston Wednesday.

But a closer examination of the game reveals that Jokic should have been credited with ten assists.

Thanks to Denver Nuggets’ Reddit user Nuggets_Hate_D, who found this play at the 6:50 mark of the third quarter. Jokic receives a pass from Danilo Gallinari and kicks the ball out to Jameer Nelson who hits the three.

The league awarded no assist on the play and for a second it looks like Beverley may have deflected the pass because of Jokic’s reaction, but judging by the trajectory of the ball it appears to go smoothly right to Nelson.

In January, Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone felt that Jokic should have been credited with more than seven assists in Denver’s win over Indiana in London, which would have possibly resulted in his first triple-double, but a closer look at that tape revealed that Jokic should have been credited with eight but not ten.

This tape is much more conclusive.

Jokic should currently be sitting at seven triple-doubles this season, not six.