Nikola Jokic Called 'Superman' by Nuggets HC After 61-Point Triple-Double vs. Wolves

Playing without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. on Tuesday night, Nikola Jokić did all he could for the Denver Nuggets in their 140-139 double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jokić recorded a triple-double with a career-high 61 points in the loss, prompting his head coach to call him "Superman" after the game.

"Nikola came up to me after the third quarter and said, 'Coach, I'm good. Leave me in there. I don't want to come out. Let me just keep playing,'" Michael Malone said. "He was in a good rhythm, obviously—61 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals. The guy is Superman."

Jokić made history with his 61-10-10 game. He set a career-high for points in a single game, scored the most points ever for a player with a triple-double and is now tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the most triple-doubles by a center in a season (31).

The Nuggets played Jokić for 53 out of a possible 58 minutes. He shot 18-of-29 from the field (6-of-11 from three) and went 19-of-24 from the free-throw line.

Jokić was playing in his third straight game after a five-game absence due to an ankle injury. He recorded a triple-double in his return on March 26, so it didn't seem like there were any lingering effects.

Tuesday marked Jokić's second game of the season with at least 50 points. He scored a then-career-high 56 points against the Washington Wizards on Dec. 7, also a loss for the Nuggets.

Even though Denver seems to have trouble taking advantage of its superhero center having career nights for some reason, Jokić keeps hitting new benchmarks in what has been an incredible season.

The three-time NBA MVP is averaging a triple-double with 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 rebounds per game in 65 starts.

Malone told reporters prior to tipoff that Murray is dealing with hamstring tightness and Porter had a family matter to attend to. It's unclear if either or both players will be back for the second night of a back-to-back when the Nuggets host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

The loss dropped the Nuggets (47-29) two games behind the Houston Rockets for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They are also tied with the Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) in the loss column in the race for the No. 3 spot.