Nikola Jokic put on an unforgettable display this Christmas Day, leading the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 142-138 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Eclipsing expectations, Jokic scored 56 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and provided 15 assists, marking the first instance in NBA history of a player achieving 55 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a single game. His explosive performance ranks as the third highest scoring total recorded on Christmas Day, following Bernard King’s 60 points in 1984 and Wilt Chamberlain’s 59 in 1961.
After trailing by nine points late, Jokic's extraordinary effort propelled the Nuggets to overtime and ultimately, victory. This triumph marked his 15th triple-double this season and the 179th of his NBA career. Jamal Murray also starred, contributing 35 points and 10 assists, helping Denver recover after losing two of their last three outings.
On the opposing side, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards shone with 44 points, including 24 during the crucial fourth quarter and overtime. His night came to an abrupt end when he was ejected with just 21 seconds remaining in the game after receiving his second technical foul, a significant moment impacting the Timberwolves' chance for a comeback.
In New York, the Knicks overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 126-124 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jalen Brunson spearheaded the comeback with 34 points, scoring 13 in crunch time and hitting the vital three-pointer with just over a minute to go.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell also scored 34 points, but the Cavaliers faltered, allowing multiple double-digit leads to slip away. They suffered their first defeat of the season when leading after three quarters. Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, while Evan Mobley returned from injury with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, San Antonio continued their impressive momentum with a 117-102 victory over Oklahoma City. De’Aaron Fox led the charge with 29 points, extending the Spurs’ winning streak to eight games, excluding the NBA Cup final. Victor Wembanyama, coming off the bench, contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds in limited time.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder, scoring 22 points but faced challenges in shooting efficiency as Oklahoma City fell to back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
Golden State secured a 126-116 victory over Dallas, despite a late charge from the Mavericks. Stephen Curry logged 23 points, with a crucial deep three-pointer late in the game to maintain the lead. Rookie Cooper Flagg impressed with a high of 27 points for Dallas, and Brandon Williams added 26. The Mavericks faced an early setback when Anthony Davis left with groin spasms in the second quarter.
Closing out the Christmas Day festivities, Houston defeated the Los Angeles Lakers decisively, with a score of 119-96. Amen Thompson led all scorers with 26 points, and Kevin Durant added 25 as the Rockets dominated from the outset.
Alperen Sengun also shined, registering a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Luka Doncic scored 25 points for the Lakers, while LeBron James recorded 18 points in his 19th Christmas outing. Los Angeles struggled on the boards and never seriously threatened after an early deficit.
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