Nikola Jokic had a Christmas to remember in Denver. The Serbian genius recorded a 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist triple-double to seal a 142-138 victory over the Timberwolves in an overtime that is already history. In those five extra minutes he scored 18 points, a new NBA record, surpassing the 17 that Stephen Curry had set in 2016.
The game had it all. Jamal Murray contributed 35 points for a team that is still without three starters – Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun – but did not give up even when the night was going awry. The Nuggets had let a 15-point lead slip away in the final five and a half minutes of regulation.
Anthony Edwards, who had promised “a great night” in front of the ESPN cameras, delivered with 44 points and an acrobatic three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to force overtime. At the start of the extra period, the shooting guard scored seven points in a row and the Wolves pulled away 9-0. But the script suddenly changed. Jokic took over, made everything he shot — 3-of-3 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range and 10-of-11 from the free throw line — and delivered one of those performances that will live long in the memory.
Another very special date
Edwards ended up being sent off for protesting two technicals when the Nuggets had already cut back to tie. Denver, with Tim Hardaway Jr. contributing 19 points as a starter due to Johnson’s injury, ended up closing out the win and putting the 3-0 in their season series against Minnesota.
Along the way, Jokic reached his 179th triple-double, just two behind Oscar Robertson in the all-time rankings. Another milestone for a player who never tires of rewriting the NBA with a serene smile and an infallible wrist.The next challenge awaits: the Timberwolves will host the Nets on Saturday; the Nuggets will continue the tour in Orlando.
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