Post by : Meena
Hassan
Nikola Jokic achieved an unparalleled feat this Christmas Day, driving the Denver Nuggets to a sensational 142-138 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Jokic showcased his extraordinary skills with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to tally at least 55 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in the same game. This performance ranks as the third highest scoring total in Christmas Day history, behind Bernard King’s 60 points in 1984 and Wilt Chamberlain’s 59 points in 1961.
Despite being down by nine points late in the game, the Nuggets, propelled by Jokic's exceptional talent, made a comeback to force overtime and clinched the victory. This victory marks his 15th triple-double this season and the 179th of his NBA regular-season career. Teammate Jamal Murray contributed 35 points and 10 assists, helping the Nuggets rebound after losing two of their last three games.
On the opposing side, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards dazzled with 44 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter and overtime, but was ejected with 21 seconds left following a second technical foul, limiting the Timberwolves’ chances.
In another exciting matchup, the New York Knicks made a stunning comeback from a 17-point deficit to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124. Jalen Brunson spearheaded the effort with 34 points, netting 13 in the crucial final minutes and hitting a decisive three-pointer just over a minute before the final buzzer.
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell also scored 34 points, but the Cavaliers allowed multiple double-digit leads to slip away, suffering their first defeat this season after leading at the end of three quarters. Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, while Evan Mobley marked his return from injury with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Elsewhere, San Antonio enjoyed a strong performance with a 117-102 victory at Oklahoma City. De’Aaron Fox starred with 29 points as the Spurs extended their winning streak to eight games, not including the NBA Cup final. Victor Wembanyama, returning from a calf injury, contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds in limited action.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 22 points but struggled with efficiency as the Thunder faced back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
In San Francisco, Golden State thwarted a late push from Dallas to secure a 126-116 victory. Stephen Curry made 23 points and hit a pivotal deep three-pointer in the late game phases. Rookie Cooper Flagg stood out for Dallas with a game-high 27 points, while Brandon Williams chipped in 26. The Mavericks faced a setback when Anthony Davis left the game in the second quarter due to groin issues.
Houston rounded out the Christmas Day matches with a decisive 119-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Amen Thompson was the game’s top scorer with 26 points, while Kevin Durant contributed an additional 25, guiding the Rockets throughout the contest.
Alperen Sengun notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, as Houston dominated the rebounding battle. For the Lakers, Luka Doncic scored 25 points, and LeBron James added 18 points in his 19th Christmas Day game, while Los Angeles struggled on rebounds and never really threatened after falling behind early.
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