By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Extending a winning streak to six games and jumping to 20-6 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, the Denver Nuggets topped the Orlando Magic, 126-115, in Ball Arena on Thursday.
Besides the usual contribution amounting to a 13th triple-double this season, Nikola Jokic became the career assists leader among centers, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s total midway through the second period. At 5,654 assists in the Regular Season to start in Orlando, he needed six more to match the record, and ended up with 13.
Applauded by coaches and teammates, he also received the game ball in the locker room.
“I always say this, in this moment not a lot,” the Joker mentioned in a postgame press conference, downplaying the latest huge career milestone. “You don’t have time to think about it. You have two hours to think about it, and then after that you forget.”
“Maybe some of the bigger passes. Maybe something in the Playoffs, but I don’t even remember,” he previously struggled to pick a favorite assist.
“I don’t know if it’s even a great pass, but making the right play. Maybe it’s not a flashy pass, whatever, but I think when you make a right play, you kind of feel good about yourself,” added Jokic, confirming his creative approach.
In addition to 13 dimes, the 30-year-old Serbian center went for 23 points on 10/17 from the field, 11 rebounds, and two steals, but also committed six turnovers over 37:47.
Nikola Jokic has passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the center with THE MOST ASSISTS in NBA history 📊
What an achievement for the Joker 🃏🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/OeMrz1KRhh
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 19, 2025
After an early 14-point deficit, the team coached by David Adelman stormed back in the second quarter, where Jamal Murray scored 20 of his 32 points, and gained control for the rest of the way.
“I think that in the end, we controlled the game,” said Jokic.
Logging 13:11 off the bench, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas chipped in ten points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
On the wrong end, German Tristan da Silva (right shoulder contusion) was ruled out, joining fellow German options, brothers Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery) on the injury list. European action went from Georgian Goga Bitadze at six points, four rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one assist in 19:26 to French Noah Penda packing three points, five rebounds, and one steal over 11:35.