Jokic records 50-point double-double in loss to Kings

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic produced a performance to remember during a 119-114 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

The Serbian finished the contest with a career-high 50 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds, and three blocks over 41 minutes. He became the first center since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975 to record at least 50 points and 10 assists in a game, according to Basketball Reference's Justin Kubatko.

Jokic is now also only the third Nuggets player to record a 50-point game over the past 20 seasons, joining Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, and the first with a double-double featuring at least 50 points or 10 assists.

The big man's previous career high was 47 points, a mark he tied last Sunday during a win over the Utah Jazz. He also registered 47 points against the Atlanta Hawks last season.

Jokic is an early MVP candidate due to his magnificent play through 22 games. He entered Saturday's tilt averaging career bests in points (26.1), rebounds (11.6), assists (8.4), and steals (1.7) per game.