Russell Westbrook earned plaudits in the NBA on Monday after becoming only the third player in the league's history to register a triple-double with zero turnovers, while shooting 100% from the field and free-throw line.

That performance came in the Denver Nuggets' 132-121 victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Westbrook joins Nikola Jokic, who achieved the feat in 2018 against the Phoenix Suns, and Domantas Sabonis, who did so for the Sacramento Kings against the Toronto Raptors in November.

The 36-year-old finished on 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, having shot seven for seven from the field and two for two from the free-throw line. It was Westbrook's 201st triple-double, which is more than any other player in NBA history.

"First-ballot Hall of Famer, one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "What I admire so much about him, aside from the leadership and toughness that he brings every single day, is he's got no ego."

Westbrook's team-mate Jokic also registered a triple-double in the same game, with 36 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists, while Jamal Murray had 10 assists and 20 points. Despite that, the postgame talk centred around Westbrook.

"He came here for one reason and that's to help us win a championship," said Malone. "He hates to lose, and that's another thing I love about him. He's built the right way, and I'll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day."