Denver Nuggets defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 142 to 138 in overtime, in a game held on December 25 at Denver.
The match closed the NBA’s Natal schedule with an intense duel between two stars.
Anthony Edwards scored 44 points for Wolves, but Jokić dominated the overtime with 18 points.
Jokić’s historic performance
Nikola Jokić achieved the first stat line of 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in NBA history.
The Serbian converted 15 of 21 shots from the field, including four of six on three-pointers.
Additionally, he made 22 of 23 free throws.
Jamal Murray contributed 35 points and 10 assists for the Nuggets.
- Jokić scored 18 points in the first quarter.
- He completed the triple-double in the third period.
- His 56 points are the third-highest total in Natal games, behind Bernard King (60 in 1984) and Wilt Chamberlain (59 in 1961).
WAKIN’ UP WITH THIS JOK ENERGY 🗣️pic.twitter.com/fY43pYQ91m
—Denver Nuggets (@nuggets)December 26, 2025
Turn of Spurs over Thunder
San Antonio Spurs beat Oklahoma City Thunder 117 to 102, in Oklahoma City.
The Spurs achieved their third consecutive victory over the defending champions in two weeks.
De’Aaron Fox led the way with 29 points, while Victor Wembanyama recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Stephon Castle added 19 points and seven assists.
The Spurs are now 2.5 games behind the leader of the Conferência Oeste.
Reassembled from Knicks to Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks beat Cleveland Cavaliers 126 to 124, with a comeback in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks were 17 points behind at the start of the final quarter.
Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, including head-to-head duels with Donovan Mitchell, who also had 34.
Jordan Clarkson came off the bench with 25 points for the Knicks.
Tyler Kolek contributed 16 points and nine assists.
Other games from the Natal lineup
Golden State Warriors defeated Dallas Mavericks 126 to 116.
Stephen Curry scored 23 points and reached the 26,000 mark in his career.
Cooper Flagg, making his Natal debut, scored 27 points for the Mavericks.
Houston Rockets beat Los Angeles Lakers 119-96.
Amen Thompson led the way with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Kevin Durant added 25 points and eight assists.
Luka Dončić scored 25 points for Lakers, and LeBron James recorded 18.
Individual overtime highlights
The confrontation between Nuggets and Timberwolves had the highest scoring overtime in NBA history, with 50 points in total.
Denver scored 27 points in overtime, compared to 23 from Minnesota.
Jokić was responsible for 18 points in that period.
Edwards forced overtime with a three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.
The Nuggets played without three injured starters, but Jokić made up for his absence.
Context of the rivalry in Oeste
San Antonio imposed the first home defeat to Thunder of the season.
OKC is 26-5, but 0-3 against the Spurs.
The Spurs won eight games in a row.
The Texan team emerged as a legitimate contender in the Oeste.
Wembanyama highlighted the collective effort after the victory.
Post-game reactions
Nuggets’s interim coach, David Adelman, praised Jokić as the best player in the world.
Peyton Watson stated that Jokić’s daily performances cannot be underestimated.
Wembanyama talked about the rewards of hard work in the games against OKC.
Curry commented on Flagg’s talent, saying the league is in good hands.
