Nuggets' Michael Malone Says Nikola Jokić 'Built for These Moments' After Game 3 Win

Nikola Jokić was born for this.

The Denver Nuggets star became the first player in NBA Finals history to record at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game during Wednesday's 109-94 Game 3 win over the Miami Heat.

However, the Serbian's improbable performance did not surprise head coach Michael Malone.

"Nothing he does surprises me—ever," Malone told reporters after Wednesday's win. "He's shown time and time again that he's built for these moments."

ESPN's Lisa Salters also asked Jokić after the game what the performance meant to him.

"I mean to be honest, not much," Jokić said on the broadcast. "I'm just glad that we won the game. It was a big one for us just because they won one in our arena. We just didn't want to go down 2-1."

Jokić now also has three of the five 30-20-10 playoff games in NBA history, two of which have come during this year's postseason run. The only other players to accomplish the feat are Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.

Abdul-Jabbar put up 38 points, 23 rebounds and 11 assists as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in a 1970 playoff game against the New York Knicks. Chamberlain notched 37 points, 27 rebounds and 11 assists as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers in a 1967 playoff game against the Cincinnati Royals.

Aside from Jokić, Jamal Murray also finished Wednesday's game with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

They are the first teammates in NBA history to each record 30-point triple-doubles in the same game, according to ESPN Stats and Information. The duo is also the first pair of teammates to each have 30 points and 10 assists in a playoff game since since Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter in 1992.

"I've been with Nikola for eight and Jamal for seven years now, and we've had some pretty good moments, but not in the NBA Finals," Malone said after the game. "And for those guys to make history the way they did tonight. No one's ever done that. That's what's really neat about it. ... By far their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together."

Jokić and Murray will now look to lead Denver to victory in Game 4 at Miami's Kaseya Center on Friday in hopes of closing out the finals on their home court in Game 5 on Monday.

Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, and the pressure will be on Miami to rebound from a disappointing performance on Wednesday night.