Kendrick Perkins gives Nikola Jokic a shoutout following his triple-double in battle of the No. 1 Seeds 

Kendrick Perkins has heaped praise on Nikola Jokic after the Denver Nuggets star dropped a 30-point triple-double in his team's 123-111 home win over the league-leading Boston Celtics. Jokic bagged 12 rebounds and 12 assists to round off his brilliant night.

He was also highly efficient, converting 10-of-13 attempts from the field, including 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. Here's how Perkins reacted to Jokic's performance on Twitter:

"Shout out to Jokic on another monster performance and holding it down for all the whack bodies. Speaking of health… 30 wings, 12 biscuits and 12 apple pies in a big W! Carry the hell on…"

Nikola Jokic dropped 14 points and three assists on 5-of-7 shooting in the first quarter alone. That set the tone for the Nuggets against an in-form Celtics team that was on a four-game winning run entering the contest. Boston's defense didn't have an answer for "The Joker," who dominated the game in every aspect.

The Denver Nuggets trailed only once at the start of the game when the Boston Celtics took a 5-2 lead. Once the Nuggets got ahead, they maintained the lead, thanks to a solid performance from their role players.

Bruce Brown Jr. filled in for Jamal Murray as the starting point guard, tallying 21 points, while Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland scored over 15 points each. The Nuggets improved to 24-12 on the year, extending their advantage at the top of the West by a game.

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Nikola Jokic in the running to secure third straight MVP award; Nuggets looking like legitimate title challengers

Nikola Jokic has continued to be a dominant force for the Denver Nuggets, even in the presence of other stars like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. His numbers and efficiency have remained intact and improved as the season has progressed.

Nikola Jokic has been averaging a triple-double since December. He has tallied 29.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 12.3 assists per game, shooting on a 61/38/78 clip. The Nuggets are looking like legitimate title challengers this year, with Jokic putting up MVP-caliber numbers, Murray and Porter's returns and their role players stepping up.

The Denver Nuggets have seven players putting up 10+ points per game and four averaging over 15 points. They also have the second-best offense in the league as they bolster a 116.7 offensive rating. The front office's work has paid off, leading to the team's successful run thus far.

The Nuggets made the conference finals with a healthy roster in 2020. Their stars have gained more experience since then, and they have a better supporting cast. This could see them secure their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976.