Nikola Jokic sets NBA mark with 56-point triple-double in Nuggets’ Christmas Day win
A Christmas Day performance that entered the record books
Nikola Jokic produced a landmark performance on Christmas Day, recording a 56-point triple-double to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 142-138 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game featured dramatic momentum swings, a late Minnesota comeback in regulation, and a decisive overtime in which Jokic’s scoring and efficiency proved pivotal.
Jokic, a seven-time NBA All-Star, finished with 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists. The stat line carried historic significance: he became the first player in NBA history to post a game with at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. Denver also received major support from Jamal Murray, who scored 35 points.
Overtime scoring record: Jokic surpasses Curry
The extra period became the stage for another record. Jokic scored 18 points in overtime, setting a new NBA mark for most points in an overtime period in either the regular season or the playoffs. The previous record had been 17, set by Stephen Curry in 2016.
In overtime, Jokic was 3-for-3 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from long range, and he went 10-for-11 at the foul line. His production in the extra period helped Denver recover after the Timberwolves briefly seized control following the end of regulation.
How Minnesota forced overtime
Minnesota’s rally in the closing minutes of regulation was led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 44 points. The Timberwolves erased a 15-point deficit in the final five-and-a-half minutes, a surge that culminated in Edwards hitting a twisting three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Edwards had predicted a big Christmas night performance, and his fourth-quarter shot-making helped deliver on that expectation. The comeback shifted the pressure onto Denver after the Nuggets had held a substantial late lead.
A turbulent overtime: fast start, then a turning point
The Timberwolves carried their momentum into the extra period, opening overtime on a 9-0 run. Edwards added seven quick points during that stretch as Minnesota moved in front.
However, the overtime also included a key turning point: as Denver fought back, Edwards picked up two technical fouls and was ejected for arguing foul calls. Minnesota’s leading scorer was no longer available for the remainder of the extra period, and Denver capitalized behind Jokic’s record-setting scoring burst.
Denver’s response after losing a late lead
Despite the late collapse in the fourth quarter, Denver regrouped in overtime. After falling behind 124-115, the Nuggets went on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 126-126. From there, Jokic’s shot-making and trips to the foul line helped Denver finish the job and secure the 142-138 win.
The victory also improved Denver to 3-0 this season against Minnesota, adding a notable season-series detail to a game already defined by individual milestones and late-game drama.
Injuries and absences shape the Nuggets’ rotation
Denver’s win came despite significant lineup challenges. The Nuggets were down three starters, including Cameron Johnson, who injured his right knee in Dallas on Tuesday night. Johnson hyperextended the knee and joined Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) on the sideline.
With Johnson out, Tim Hardaway Jr. started and scored 19 points, providing additional scoring support as Denver adjusted its rotation.
Another career milestone in a night of records
Beyond the single-game records, Jokic also continued to climb the all-time list for triple-doubles. By the third quarter, he had recorded his 179th career triple-double, leaving him two shy of Oscar Robertson for second place in NBA history.
That broader context underscores how Jokic’s Christmas Day performance combined both a historic one-night achievement and continued progress in a long-term statistical category closely associated with his style of play.
Key numbers and moments
Final score: Denver Nuggets 142, Minnesota Timberwolves 138 (overtime).
Nikola Jokic: 56 points, 16 rebounds, 15 assists; first in NBA history with 55+ points, 15+ rebounds, 15+ assists in a game.
Overtime record: Jokic scored 18 points in overtime, surpassing the previous mark of 17 set in 2016.
Jamal Murray: 35 points for Denver.
Anthony Edwards: 44 points; tied the game with a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in regulation; ejected in overtime after two technical fouls.
Denver absences: Cameron Johnson (right knee), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle).
Tim Hardaway Jr.: started and scored 19 points.
What the game reflected
The Christmas Day contest offered a mix of individual brilliance and team resilience. Minnesota’s late comeback and early overtime burst tested Denver’s ability to respond under pressure, particularly with multiple starters unavailable. Denver’s answer was anchored by Jokic, whose overtime scoring and overall triple-double line placed the game in the NBA record book.
For Minnesota, Edwards’ scoring output and late shot to force overtime were central to the drama, even as his ejection in the extra period became a defining late-game development. For Denver, the result was both a win and a night that highlighted Jokic’s ability to produce historic numbers in high-leverage moments.