Post by : Meena Ariff

Nikola Jokic delivered one of the greatest performances ever seen on Christmas Day, powering the Denver Nuggets to a dramatic 142-138 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Jokic erupted for 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to record at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a single game. The 30-year-old also registered the third-highest scoring total in Christmas Day history, trailing only Bernard King’s 60-point outing in 1984 and Wilt Chamberlain’s 59 points in 1961.

Denver trailed by nine points late in regulation but surged back behind Jokic’s brilliance to force overtime and secure the win. It marked his 15th triple-double of the season and the 179th of his regular-season career. Jamal Murray added 35 points and 10 assists as the Nuggets bounced back after losing two of their previous three games.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards put on a show with 44 points, scoring 24 in the fourth quarter and overtime. However, his night ended early when he was ejected with 21 seconds remaining in overtime after receiving his second technical foul, a turning point that hurt the Timberwolves’ comeback hopes.

In New York, the Knicks staged their biggest comeback of the season, rallying from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 34 points, scoring 13 of them in the final minutes and knocking down the decisive three-pointer with just over a minute remaining.

Donovan Mitchell finished with 34 points for Cleveland, but the Cavaliers let multiple double-digit leads slip away and suffered their first loss of the season when leading after three quarters. Darius Garland contributed 20 points and 10 assists, while Evan Mobley returned from injury with 14 points and nine rebounds.

San Antonio continued its strong run with a 117-102 road victory over Oklahoma City. De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points as the Spurs extended their winning streak to eight games, excluding the NBA Cup final. Victor Wembanyama came off the bench for the sixth straight game since returning from a calf injury and recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds in limited minutes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 22 points but struggled with his shooting efficiency, as Oklahoma City suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season.

Golden State held off a late Dallas rally to claim a 126-116 win in San Francisco. Stephen Curry scored 23 points and delivered a key deep three-pointer in the closing minutes to restore a comfortable lead. Rookie Cooper Flagg impressed with a game-high 27 points for Dallas, while Brandon Williams added 26. The Mavericks were hit early when Anthony Davis exited in the second quarter due to right groin spasms.

Houston closed the Christmas Day schedule with a convincing 119-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Amen Thompson led all scorers with 26 points, while Kevin Durant added 25 as the Rockets controlled the game from start to finish.

Alperen Sengun posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds as Houston dominated the boards throughout the contest. Luka Doncic scored 25 points for the Lakers, while LeBron James finished with 18 points in his 19th Christmas Day appearance. Los Angeles struggled on the glass and never seriously challenged after falling behind early.

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