Jokic closes in on NBA record as Haliburton suffers second injury in five games
The Serbian center recorded his 200th career triple-double in Denver's win over New Orleans, while the Pacers' star missed time due to a hamstring issue.
By Natalia Costa ·
Nikola Jokic recorded his 200th career triple-double on Wednesday night, placing him nine behind the all-time NBA record held by Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets center finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 104-91 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jokic is on pace to break Westbrook's mark of 209 in the coming weeks. Westbrook retired this summer, leaving the record untouched. Oscar Robertson ranks third on the all-time list with 181 triple-doubles. Jokic has averaged a triple-double in each of the last two seasons, posting 34 in 2023-24 and 34 in 2024-25. This was his second such performance of the current campaign.
The Serbian point of attack has won the NBA Most Valuable Player award three times, in 2021, 2022, and 2024. His consistent statistical output has established him as the primary candidate to surpass the long-standing benchmark set by the former Thunder and Lakers guard.
In the same slate of games, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-109. The result came with the news that Tyrese Haliburton will sit out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury. Haliburton had played in all four of the Pacers' games this season before the new injury.
The 25-year-old guard had been out for the entirety of the previous season due to an Achilles rupture. In his limited action this year, he averaged 21.3 points and 9.5 assists. The early return to the injury list interrupts the Pacers' start to the season, as they dropped to a 2-3 record.
LeBron James, playing for the 76ers, recorded 13 points and 10 assists in the win. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 27 points. Joel Embiid contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds, while James Harden added 20 points and 10 rebounds. Anfernee Simons scored 20 points for the visitors.
The 76ers moved to the top of the Eastern Conference standings with a 4-1 record following the victory. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrew Nembhard finished with 18 points and 14 assists.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 15 points in his first game against his former team. The contrast between Jokic's historical progression and Haliburton's recurring health issues defines the early dynamics of this season's top-tier players.
