Nuggets game day: Revisiting Nikola Jokic's historic night in Milwaukee

It took just 30 seconds for Nikola Jokic to score his first basket the last time the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks faced off. What followed was a display of modern basketball wizardry.

Jokic went on to score 30 points on 11-14 shooting, register 15 rebounds and hand out 17 assists on the eve of February’s All-Star break. The 23-year-old recorded what many consider the fastest triple-double in league history in just 14 minutes and 33 seconds. Jokic smashed the previous record of 17 minutes which had stood for more than 60 years. Officially, it was the fastest triple-double recorded in the last 20 years.

The accomplishment prompted Nuggets coach Michael Malone to compare Jokic to a trio of future Hall-of-Famers.

“It’s kind of like when I was fortunate enough to coach a guy like LeBron (James) or Chris Paul or Steph Curry,” Malone said. “You recognize greatness.”

Jokic could be in store for another big night Sunday when the Nuggets host the Milwaukee Bucks (6:00 p.m., Altitude). Denver’s big man feasted on Bucks’ center Thon Maker in the two teams’ first meeting and outclassed backup Tyler Zeller down low.

Maker missed Milwaukee’s win over the Lakers with a groin injury and his status is up in the air for Sunday’s matchup. Starting center John Henson, who wasn’t available for the Bucks in February, also missed Milwaukee’s matchup against the Lakers but could play against Denver. Zeller and Marshall Plumlee (the youngest Plumlee brother), who has only appeared in eight games this season, make up Milwaukee’s reserve bigs.

Jokic should feast again.

Over the past few weeks. the Serbian has regained his pre-All-Star break form on the offensive end of the floor. Jokic is averaging 23.2 points (55.4 FG%, 50.0 3P%), 11.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his last 12 games. He’s on pace to be the third big man in league history (Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Garnett) to average 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game.

“I’m just playing the same way,” Jokic said after his historic night. “Maybe I’m a little bit (more) aggressive. I don’t know, really. I’m just playing the same way.”

That night in Milwaukee was also special for Jokic because of who was in attendance. A few hundred Serbian fans made their presence felt at BMO Harris Bradley Center and afterward got autographs from Jokic and selfies with the star big man who captained his country to a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“It’s really nice to see them coming,” Jokic said. “It’s really nice to play in front of them, maybe extra motivation a little bit. When you see a flag, when you see people are calling your name in your language, it’s really nice.”

When Jokic is scoring, assisting and playmaking like he has over the past month he unlocks the Nuggets’ offense to its full potential. Denver flew past Milwaukee on Feb. 15 and handed out 37 assists — its second-highest total this season — on 47 made baskets. The Nuggets just limped through a seven-game road trip where they went 3-4 but still maintained the league’s third-best offense over that span. On the season, the Nuggets’ offense ranks sixth-league wide.

At the head of the Nuggets’ snake is Jokic. He recorded his fifth triple-double the first time around against the Bucks. He’ll look to register his ninth of the season Sunday.

“He’s incredible. That guy is incredible,” Will Barton said in Milwaukee. “When he first came here he was just happy to be here, and now look at him.”

***Gary Harris (right knee sprain/strain) will miss his eighth consecutive game. Wilson Chandler (nasal fracture) is questionable.

Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

Bucks Projected Starters

Eric Bledsoe, Tony Snell, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson