Russell Westbrook made history in the NBA on Monday night, achieving a remarkable feat during the Denver Nuggets’ 132-121 victory over the Utah Jazz. With an impressive performance, Westbrook recorded a triple-double without any turnovers, becoming just the second player ever to accomplish such a milestone while shooting 100% from the field and the free-throw line. He finished the night with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, hitting all 7 of his field goal attempts and both of his free throws.
Nikola Jokic also shone brightly for the Nuggets, adding to the excitement with his own triple-double, scoring 36 points, grabbing 22 rebounds, and handing out 11 assists. Jamal Murray contributed significantly as well, tallying 20 points and 10 assists.
The Jazz had standout performances from Jordan Clarkson, who scored 24 points, and Collin Sexton, who added 22. Although Utah led at halftime with a score of 66-64, the Nuggets took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 34-23.
Both teams faced challenges with the absence of key players. Denver’s Aaron Gordon missed the game due to a calf strain, and Utah’s John Collins remained sidelined with a persistent hip bruise.
As the game progressed, a critical moment came when Westbrook intercepted a pass from Sexton, leading to a dunk that pushed Denver’s lead to 126-114 with just under three minutes left in the game.
An important statistic to note was the Jazz’s struggle with turnovers. Known for having the highest turnover rate in the league, Utah committed 13 turnovers in the second half alone, which allowed Denver to score 14 points off those mistakes. In stark contrast, the Jazz recorded only three turnovers during the first half.
Looking ahead, the Jazz will travel to New York for their next game, while the Nuggets will host the Atlanta Hawks.
