Nikola Jokic compiled 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists as the host Denver Nuggets rallied from nine down in overtime to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-138 on Thursday night.
The 30-year-old star produced the first NBA game ever with at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. Jokic also logged the third-highest point total ever registered on Christmas Day, behind 60 points from Bernard King in 1984 and 59 from Wilt Chamberlain in 1961.
“It was a crazy game, and it’s a little bit late, so it’s nice to finish off with a victory,” Jokic said postgame on ABC.
It was the 15th triple-double of the season for Jokic. He now has 179 in his career during the regular season and 21 in the postseason.
Jamal Murray finished with 35 points and 10 assists for the Nuggets, who had lost two of their previous three games.
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards scored 24 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter and overtime before picking up his second technical foul with 21 seconds left in the extra session.
Julius Randle scored 32 points, Jaden McDaniels added 21 points and Rudy Gobert had 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which had won three straight.
Edwards’ 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in regulation capped the Timberwolves’ rally from a 15-point less than six minutes to go. Minnesota then scored the first nine points of overtime to lead 124-115.
Jokic hit subsequently hit two from deep, made a floater and sank two free throws during a 13-2 run that gave Denver a 128-126 lead. Edwards hit a layup to tie it, but Murray drained a 3-pointer with 35.7 seconds left to give the Nuggets a 131-128 edge.
Jokic hit eight free throws in the final 28 seconds to hold off Minnesota. He finished 22-for-23 from the line.
Denver was without Cameron Johnson, who sustained a bone bruise and hyperextension of his right knee in a Tuesday loss at Dallas. Johnson, who is averaging 11.7 points this season, is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Tim Hardaway Jr. got the start in his place and finished with 19 points, and Spencer Jones contributed 12 for the Nuggets.
The Timberwolves rallied to get within 108-107 with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter. Denver went ahead 113-107 with 44 seconds left on a Jones tip-in, but Edwards hit three free throws before a turnover led to McDaniels’ dunk with 4.8 seconds remaining.
Jokic made two free throws with 3.6 seconds to play, but Edwards drained a twisting corner 3-pointer to send it to overtime.
Jokic got his triple-double when he fed Murray on a fastbreak layup with 7:24 left in the third quarter that gave the Nuggets a 73-61 lead.
