Triple-Double Watch Week 18/19: Jokic with a hat trick

Welcome to Triple-Double Watch, a weekly check-in on everyone’s favorite arbitrary milestone of round, base-ten numbers.

Since the All-Star break truncated weeks 18 and 19 of the season, we’re consolidating them here into one super-week: eighneteen. While this period technically covers eight days of games instead of seven, it still produced the most triple-doubles of any frame this year with 10.

Seven names made the list and three players stepped foot onto this hallowed ground by putting up their inaugural triple-doubles of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo rang the bell for the first time. This feels like a long time coming for the Greek Freak, given the all-around nature of his game. His 36-11-13 in a losing effort marks the ninth triple-double in the burgeoning mushroom cloud of his career.

Elfrid Payton, whose hair might be negatively affecting his game so much there’s a petition to get it cut, posted a 13-11-12 in the third game with his new team. Since getting sent from the desolate situation in Orlando to the equally desolate one in Phoenix, the fourth-year point guard is averaging nearly 17 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in almost 34 minutes per game – all increases from his time with the Magic. Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery to up your game, unorthodox hair or not.

The third newcomer was Julius Randle. The oft-trade-rumored Laker had an 18-13-10 in a prime tankathon matchup against the Mavericks. It’s the fifth Randle’s had in the NBA.

Russell Westbrook (two), LeBron James (one), and Ben Simmons (one) predictably added to their totals atop the leaderboard with their versatile and multifaceted skillsets. However, it was Nikola Jokic who accomplished what only James has done so far this year: post triple-doubles in three consecutive games.

Next: How will this new Cavaliers rotation shake out?

The hat trick moved Jokic into a tie with Simmons for third-place on the season. The Serbian big man’s trio came in two games against the Spurs and in a unicorn battle with the Bucks, all crucial Nugget wins as they claw for a playoff spot. The feat coming versus Milwaukee was perhaps the most impressive of the bunch, with his 30-15-17 registering a 70.5 Triple-Double Score, the third-highest of the year.