Michael Malone says Nikola Jokic belongs in MVP conversation after third straight triple-double

DENVER — Nikola Jokic lumbered across halfcourt, collected the loose ball bouncing his way and surveyed the floor. Will Barton stood under the basket. He was open, but getting him the ball would require a pinpoint pass over the top of the defense. With his eyes trained toward the right side of the floor, Jokic fired it — a one-handed bullet that Barton finished for an old-fashioned three-point play.

The assist was Jokic’s 10th of the night. It helped give Denver a four-point cushion with roughly nine minutes remaining. The Nuggets would go on to defeat the Spurs 122-119.

The Nuggets kept the momentum going in their first game since the All-Star break. They have won seven of their last eight games and 10 of their previous 13. Jokic is the fuel sparking the run. In Denver’s final game before the break, he pieced together what was believed to be the fastest triple-double in NBA history, a 30-point, 15-rebound, 17-assist masterpiece. Jokic followed that up with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists on Friday against San Antonio.

“He looked at me fast, and then after that, I already knew he was going to throw it,” Barton said of the assist that gave Jokic his triple-double Friday. “I let him do his extra stuff, his antics. Back up, look around, act like he don’t know what he about to do, then throw it. I’ve been playing with him for a while, so I’m used to him doing shit like that.”

The no-look passes have started to seem routine, and so have the triple-doubles. Jokic recorded his third straight triple-double in the win over San Antonio. He has six triple-doubles this season, four of which have come in the month of February.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jokic and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players 6-foot-10 or taller to record triple-doubles in three consecutive games. That’s pretty good company for a player who turned 23 earlier this week.

“I expect it almost every night now,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “You look at it, the last 13 games he’s averaging close to a triple-double. The guy is a hell of a player. I really want him to start getting the recognition he deserves. He wasn’t an All-Star. He’s not in the MVP conversation. But when you look at his numbers, that guy should be an All-Star. He should be in the MVP conversation.

“He is one of the best all-around players in the game. Not young players. Not big guys. Not small guys. He’s one of the best players in the NBA right now. And he’s proving it against the best teams and the best players every single night. So at some point, he and at some point our team will get the respect we deserve because we’re not getting it.”

Ever since Malone decided to loosen the reins on the offense on Jan. 21, Jokic’s game has gone to a new level. He’s averaging 20.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 9.0 assists. The Nuggets are playing their best basketball of the season with him as the fulcrum.

“Thank you, coach?” said Jokic, clearly uneasy when informed Malone said he belongs in the MVP conversation.

“I think we need to earn the respect. These are the games when you earn your respect. We’re not going to make excuses. We’re just going to try to play through it and be the best we can be.”

Jokic fouled out of Friday’s game with 1:46 remaining. Referee Tony Brothers tagged him with a questionable charging call. The Nuggets picked up 12 fouls in the fourth quarter alone, including two technicals, but still managed to hang on for the win.

Six Nuggets player scored in double figures. Gary Harris had 23 on 16 shots, Wilson Chandler contributed 18, and Barton scored 15. The Spurs had a hard time slowing the Nuggets offensively. Lately, every team is finding it difficult.

“I try to play the right way every time,” Jokic said. “I think that’s how you’re supposed to play. The ball is going to find you. If you see the guy open next to you, just pass the ball. Make the extra pass. The small things.”