In a night that will be remembered for a record-setting performance, Nikola Jokic poured in 56 points, including 18 in overtime, as the Denver Nuggets edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-138 on Thursday night.
## Overtime Explosion
Jokic’s 18 points came in the final 2:53 of overtime, a burst that helped the Nuggets overturn a 44-point performance by Anthony Edwards, who had sent the game into extra time with a twisting 3-pointer from the left corner with a second to go in regulation. The Nuggets, short-handed and missing three opening-night starters, had to rally from a 15-point deficit in the final minutes of regulation and were down nine at the start of overtime. With 2:59 remaining, coach David Adelman called a timeout, and Jokic took over, launching a 3-pointer that sparked a 27-point surge. That 27-point run set an NBA record for most points scored in a five-minute overtime.
## Jokic’s Dominant Stat Line
The Serbian superstar finished with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists for his 179th career triple-double, the first 55-15-15 triple-double in NBA history. He shot 15 of 21 from the floor, 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and 22 of 23 free throws, while maintaining a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Jokic’s 18 points in overtime broke Steph Curry’s 2016 record of 17 points in a single overtime.
## Murray and Team Effort
Jamal Murray added 35 points, including a career-high 18 three-pointers, half of which were made. He blocked Rudy Gobert’s putback and dished to Tim Hardaway for a 3-pointer. “Seems about right,” Murray said after the game. He also noted, “Yeah, I just told the bench I was going to shoot a pull-up because of the way they were guarding Jokic. The way he was scoring, they were so focused on him. I don’t think I shot for most of the fourth and overtime.”
## Edwards’ Performance and Technical Fouls
Edwards finished with 44 points, 11 in overtime, and was ejected after picking up two quick technical fouls in the final minute-one for knocking the ball out of Jokic’s hands on a dead ball following a basket. His seven quick points at the start of overtime helped the Wolves take a 124-115 lead before the Nuggets’ rally.
## Coach Adelman’s Praise and Reflections
Adelman marveled, “I’ll just keep saying: Don’t get tired of this,” adding, “He’s the best player in the world, just the bottom line. And what he does nightly it’s important to the game of basketball. It’s good for sports – it’s good for his head coach.” He also reflected, “They’re gonna show this game 20 years from now, I’ll crack open a beer and watch it. There’s other ones that I flip on NBA TV and I immediately turn the channel. So, this was one of those crazy NBA games with two really good teams, top-tier teams, so just proud that we found a way.”
## Key Takeaways
– Jokic’s 56 points, 18 in overtime, set a new NBA overtime scoring record and broke Curry’s 2016 record.
– The Nuggets’ 27-point surge from 2:59 to 0:00 in overtime remains the most in a five-minute stretch.
– Despite missing three starters, Denver overcame a 15-point deficit in regulation and a nine-point deficit at the start of overtime to win 142-138.
The game capped the league’s five-game Christmas Day slate and will be remembered as one of the most remarkable nights in recent NBA history.
