It was another record-breaking weekend in the world of sports.
Nikola Jokić etched his name into NBA history with another triple-double, while cycling legend Mark Cavendish ended his career with a fairytale finish. Coco Gauff demonstrated why she’s one of the most resilient young athletes, and Kyler Murray continued to shine, setting a franchise record with the Arizona Cardinals against the New York Jets.
Here are five standout athletes from the weekend:
Nikola Jokić
On Sunday, Jokić delivered a historic performance that helped the Denver Nuggets edge past the Dallas Mavericks. The reigning and three-time MVP put up 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists — making him the first player in NBA history to achieve such a stat line. His impressive triple-double came in a thrilling 122-120 win over the Mavericks, a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals.
This marked Jokić’s 137th career triple-double, and incredibly, it was his 52nd instance of registering one before the fourth quarter. He was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all three of his attempts, and flawless from the free-throw line, going 8-for-8. Jokić started strong, with six assists in the first quarter alone, and his scoring came effortlessly, featuring his signature jump stops, floaters, and pivots.
Despite the Denver Nuggets’ rocky start to the season, they’ve now won five consecutive games, with Jokić recording a triple-double in each of his last four outings.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes looked to be finding his best form again in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday. This was the final match of the interim era under Ruud van Nistelrooy before Ruben Amorim takes over as manager.
Fernandes played a crucial role in all three goals. He opened the scoring with a brilliant long-range shot after combining well with Amad Diallo. His second goal was credited as an own goal by Victor Kristiansen, but Fernandes was involved again in the third goal, assisting Alejandro Garnacho, who finished with confidence.
Fernandes was everywhere on the pitch, making seven key passes and four tackles in an all-around performance that showed his importance to Manchester United as they aim to recover from their tough start to the season.
Mark Cavendish
Cycling’s most accomplished sprinter, Mark Cavendish, brought his illustrious career to a close with one final victory at the Tour de France Singapore Criterium. The 39-year-old was honored by fellow riders before the race, wearing number 35 in tribute to his record stage wins in the Tour de France.
Cavendish’s 165th career win came in a sprint finish, where he overtook rivals Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie in the hot and humid conditions. The Criterium was a 25-lap race over a 2.3-kilometer course, totaling 57.5 kilometers. After the win, Cavendish shared a celebratory kiss with his wife and enjoyed the moment with his teammates and the other riders.
Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff capped off her remarkable season with a thrilling comeback to win the WTA Finals, becoming the youngest player to win the prestigious event since Maria Sharapova two decades ago. Gauff faced Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in the final and was two points away from defeat, but showed immense resilience to take the match to a tie-breaker, eventually winning with a forehand winner.
Her victory marked her ninth career title and kept her perfect 7-0 record in finals since 2023 intact. At just 20 years old, Gauff is the youngest American to win the WTA Finals since Serena Williams in 2001, concluding a turbulent year on a high note after falling short of reaching a grand slam final.
Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray was in sensational form during his team’s game against the New York Jets, with head coach Jonathan Gannon calling him the best player on the field. Murray set a franchise record with 17 consecutive completions and was nearly flawless, completing 22 of 24 passes.
After taking a big hit from Jets linebacker Quincy Williams, which sent his helmet flying, Murray bounced back to throw a perfect touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. He also became the first player in NFL history to complete 85% of his passes for at least 250 yards and run for two touchdowns in the same game.
Murray’s 91.7% completion rate was the second highest in franchise history, and he did not turn the ball over. With a newfound confidence and sharp play, Murray appears to be playing at a new level, showing no signs of slowing down.
