Nuggets survive thriller on Christmas behind Nikola Jokic’s historic performance

Nikola Jokic put on a masterpiece, scoring 56 points to go with 16 rebounds and 15 assists, marking his 179th career triple-double. He erupted for an NBA-record 18 points in overtime alone, erasing a 15-point deficit in the final five and a half minutes and carrying a shorthanded Nuggets squad to a 142-138 victory.

Anthony Edwards nearly stole the show for Minnesota, scoring 44 points and forcing overtime with a dramatic fadeaway three-pointer with just 1.1 seconds left in regulation. The Timberwolves star opened overtime with seven quick points, but was later ejected after picking up two technical fouls amid the frenzy.

Jamal Murray added 35 points for the Nuggets, while Julius Randle contributed 32 for the Timberwolves. The win improved Denver to 22-8 while Minnesota dropped to 20-11 on the season.

This instant classic capped a memorable holiday slate, reminding fans why Jokic remains the league’s most unstoppable player.